New York City, Subway Station, 8:25am. . .
What exactly did it mean to be Superboy — to be a hero? That question and many variations of it circulates through Connor's restless mind as he goes about his day, essentially running on auto-pilot. Day in and day out, his lifestyle was mostly repetitive, though far from utterly unfulfilling. His prior life, time he spent as a spandex vigilante, was creeping back into his days. He had given up frequently donning the renowned bold red S he wore so proudly before, but circumstances lead to him resorting to it again. He has to protect his new identity this time around, which allows him to aid others who're in need without compromising the new beginning he found to begin with. People he's formed bonds with and couldn't bare to watch them suffer to an undeserving demise due to his "job" bleeding into his civilian life. But... could he really keep doing this? Well, that was the big question of the day.
With the train finally easing to a stop and allowing passengers to depart and/or board, Connor himself steps off and makes his way through the bustling crowd and up to the surface. Presently heading to work.
Still, he debates the pros and cons of being a vigilante again with himself. It was tempting — the fact that he was wearing his suit from CADMUS under his civilian attire was evident of that. Originally, he thought one day of patrolling couldn't hurt, but now he was wondering if he could even trust himself to abide by it. He clutches at the strap of his sports bag, internally conflicted on what he truly wants.
Somewhere nearby. . .
With the booming sound of a horn roaring within the sky above, a swirling vortex of gold and apricot opens without explanation, and spits out a grim omen that threatens all life on Earth. Broad with skin of ashen gray, imposing in height and riddled with spikes, as well as a constant hunger for conquest — Metropolis' nightmare returns and plummets to the earth, primed to wreak havoc on another unsuspecting city. Engulfing in a fiery blanket within its descent from a high altitude, it inevitably crashes onto the city street like a meteor, inducing a powerful shockwave that shatters glass within half a mile and nearly sends startled civilians flying. A large crater was made, several cars crushed and nearly twice as many killed - screams and panicking murmurs erupting all around. The display earned gawking eyes, people who were genuinely wondering what caused such damage. Their wait was short lived: rising to its bare feet, the beast - the monstrosity dubbed Doomsday roars to the heavens and 'announces' his presence. Nearly all who hears his animalistic cry, cowers before him.
Not far at all from the spectacle, Connor observes with concern, especially when a roar rings like the crackle of thunder. Did some sort of extraterrestrial creature land on smack dab in the middle of downtown? He wasn't sure wether he should investigate, or leave it be. The answer, however, became clear as day when a being emerges from that pool-sized hole. Every step possesses bass, resonating with small tremors within proximity of the imposing and advancing entity. From behind those false glasses, the youth's cyan eyes widen in disbelief. They never met a day in his life, but he was certainly very familiar with that creature.
"Doomsday. . ." He murmurs, witnessing as the monstrosity sent cars, both abandoned and occupied, flying with a simple swing of its forearm. Panicking civilians running in all directions, hoping to avoid becoming another needless victim of its violent nature. Before long, the creature took notice of the only individual who stands idly in place, staring. Not because of the visual of the young man, but instead his scent. It stares Connor down, as if it saw something familiar in the male. It knew — Doomsday knew the essence of his greatest rival resides in Connor some way, somehow. Details weren't necessary, though. Glaring red eyes burn into the young kryptonian's optics, then another posturing roar erupts from the creature's throat. In the next moment, the giant makes a dash for the youth.
"Tch— you have got to be kid-DING ME!" Connor exclaims as he duckes underneath an incoming hook, and just barely leans back in time to avoid an a following uppercut. He makes an attempt to take off running after a weave, but a large hand catches his forearm, and before he was aware of what was transpiring, he was lifted like a rag doll and slammed harshly into the pavement, the surface cracking from the impact. "Guh!?"
Effortlessly, the kryptonian-killer lifts and takes him by the shoulders before tilting its head back and delivering a fierce headbutt that disorientates the kryptonian. It follows up by tossing the shorter male a measly feet into the air and landing a jab that shatters Connor's glasses, as well as send the boy flying and tumbling three blocks away. Groaning upon his stomach, the youth raises onto all fours, drops of blood dripping onto the sidewalk underneath him.
"Jesus f*in' Christ... Hnnngh! That really hurt..." He grimaces hard, reaching to dab a finger over the source of the blood spill. That thing only hit him twice, and it drew blood with ease. The sight of his own essence on his fingers made it quite clear how this fight was likely to end. And if Superman just barely managed to take him down...
Another battle cry snatches up his attention. He turns his head to see the persistent giant gunning for him again. He wipes his face with a sleeve and stands on his feet, swiftly using his telekinesis to tear his exterior clothes away like paper, revealing the black and decorative-crimson suit he wore underneath. By this time, Doomsday has leapt into the air and was about to come down a devastating 'hammer'.
"Won't be that easy!" Quick as ever, Connor — Superboy zips up to meet his airborne adversary and lands a lightning uppercut that disperses a shockwave that could be felt a dozen or so yards away, sending the beast flying like a bullet at a diagonal trajectory. In the next second, the Boy of Steel follows with a violent burst of speed and catches up within a blink of an eye, hovering above with a fist cocked back before another blow is given. Then another, and another, and another. Not as strong as the first, but he was hoping they were adding up. He wasn't too keen on risking innocent lives in a bare knuckle brawl. Unfortunately, those punches did little to keep the monster in check. Without warning, the youth is backhanded across the face when attempting to continue the juggling, then they trade places. Two, three, four, five. The number of hits just kept coming in the midst of their drop. Somewhere in the middle of those attacks, Superboy blacks out and reawakens when he was struck again. Crashing through the roof of a skyscraper, the kryptonian finally makes an effort to turn the tide in his favor. With Doomsday prepping another punch, he raises a hand and dispenses his TK to propel his adversary skyward and out of the hole they created coming in. Ending his fall and sparing the 12th ceiling underneath him, he shoots up like a rocket and lands a straight punch to the airborne creature's chin, prolonging Doomsday's flight long enough to spike him down to the street below with careful effort.
While the abomination lands below, Superboy takes a moment to cradle his head within a palm, groaning as he fought against dizziness plaguing him. A mistake on his part. He hears screaming a moment later, and when he looks over, he's greeted by the sight of a car flying right at him. One with a driver still inside, to boot. His midsection was struck, but he ultimately manages to catch the vehicle and sits it down safely onto a nearby roof. His worries didn't end there, though. Once he floats back into sight, the ruthless monster chucks several more occupied cars at him. Each he evades, then proceeds to chase down to his fullest capability. He needs to only move within close proximity for his telekinesis to 'catch' and hold them. By the time he finishes, all three were floating in stasis around him as he carefully sets them down, as well.
"Enough of this!" He yells in frustration, zipping through the air before zeroing in on the menace. The beast attempts to swat him away, but he maneuveres to avoid the strike, and passes by while snagging a firm hold of silver hair. Dragging Doomsday along, he swerves upward with a single spin and tosseds the other far into the distance, away from the area like a football.
Lowering to touch down on the traffic jammed street, he crouches in place, breathing heavily and slowly to calm his nerves. Unaware of the arriving company.
"Not Looking too hot there, kid. Having some trouble?" A robotized voice— the vocal of none other than Tony Stark inside of his innovative suit— graceds Connor's ears. He looks over his shoulder to see Iron Man, Captain America, and Falcon approaching. Two by flight, and one on foot. A sight for sore eyes. They probably couldn't say the same, though.
"That's quite the bruises you have there, Superboy... I don't know what's going on, but we're here to help if you need it." The patriotic Rogers informs sincerely, reaching to rest a hand upon the young man's shoulder.
"Yeah, it's what we do, you know? Sometimes, you won't be able to 'one man army' your way out of a situation. That's where the Avengers come in." Sam adds, beaming subtlety from behind his concealing goggles.
"They're right. Whatever the threat is, it has to be something pretty tough to do that level of damage to you. Fill us in, why don't you?"
Superboy: "Appropriated... very much appreciated. I... I don't think I can do this one alone at all, to be honest here. That thing killed Superman. THEE Superman... And I'm just SuperBOY. I don't think I'm ready to die just yet, let alone experience an excruciatingly painful death. It's called Doomsday, by the way."
Captain America, Iron Man, Falcon: "Doomsday?"
Iron Man: "What a name... whoever does marketing for him is a genius. It's catchy in a weird way. Really sells it, you know?"
Captain America: "Tony..."
Iron Man: "What? It's true!"
A vicious roar in the distance cuts into the group's discussion; turning to look toward the source, there they saw the creature leaping through the air and on the verge of landing nearby.
Falcon: "Anything we should know about this guy, Superboy?"
Superboy: "Yeah... I think. I'm almost 98% sure he hits harder than Superman, and adapts while fighting. Oh— I think he also hates bridges."
Falcon: "Noted."
Iron Man: "Friday, I'm gonna' need every available Avenger we have on call and medical on standby. This feels like it's going to be one of those days."
A call-in issued just before Doomsday lands with a quake, and wastes no time in charging the four of them down.
Iron Man: "You know what? Add the Hulk Buster to that Christmas list while you're at it, Friday."
Without fear, the group charges to meet the creature halfway, Connor and Rogers running on foot, while Tony and Sam advances via flight. Superboy and the beast clashes ferociously with stalemate punches, meanwhile the others took to flanking. Doomsday swings with a hook for Connor's head, which the boy ducks under. Before the beast could even consider following up with another attempt, Steve jabs his vibranium shield horizontally into Doomsday's side, who retaliates by swinging his broad forearm wildly in Steve's direction. The captain rolls and avoids the blow, and Connor takes that opportunity to deliver a leaping punch onto Doomday's jaw. There was a minor flinch before the monster swings for Superboy again - this time the kryptonian raises his arms in a parallel fashion to block the hit. At best, he slides a measly feet away upon impact. Iron Man takes advantage of the opening this time and fires a repulser beam, and before he could even blink in Tony's direction for too long, Falcon swoops in with a swing of his sharp vibranium wings, chipping off bits of the protruding bones from Doomsday's body. In a fit of frustration and boiling rage, the creature roars at an irritable volume, causing most of the group to reel while covering their ears.
Iron Man: "Huh. I think we made it angry.. Where exactly did this thing come from?"
Superboy: "I don't know, but I couldn't care less about his annoyance or origin right now." And upon that response, the kryptonian rushes in, ready to strike again. Unfortunately Doomsday was quick to react: with a swiftness in reflex, the monstrosity turns with a hook that lands and causes the Superboy to drop after a violent flip. It takes hold of Connor's ankle and tosses him toward the nearest building, splat and embedding into the concrete surface. When it seems the assault on Superboy would continue, Captain America leaps onto Doomsday and wastes not a second in raining down fierce bashes of his shield as rapidly as he could at the back of the beast's head.
Captain America: "You. Won't. Get. That. Chance!" Words spoken between strikes. Falcon and Tony lends their aid, as well. One swooping in every now and then with slices, the other taking careful shots with energy beams to keep Doomsday at bay or even staggering.
Iron Man: "Friday, status?"
Friday: "SheHulk should be arriving very shortly. The Hulkbuster will arrive in 3 to 5 minutes."
Iron Man: "Copy that." In just a brief moment, Steve Rogers was picked and flung off, colliding with Falcon in mid flight before the two land atop of abandoned cars in the distance. Tony kept his distance and applies as much pressure as he could, but the beast barely seems fazed by the beams at this point; it marches onward with its forearm raised as a means to shield against the attacks. Luckily, the mentioned calvary had arrived — currently dropping down like a canon ball. Grinning in anticipation and ready to bring a hammer strike down on the abomination's head.
KROOOOM!!
"Hi there, mind if I cut in!?" The ground shakes and cracks beneath her boots, the mighty blow had even sent Doomsday face planting harshly at her feet. The beast begins rising with evident rage, but the green beauty of a powerhouse was quick to grab what she could of her adversary's neck and elevate him just enough for her to pepper his face with a series of punches. By the fourth, chips of bones went flying, and even more scattering with the few more blows that follow. She might have been strong, but Doomsday was unyielding. As if fighting through the inflicting stuns, he abruptly grips hold of her forearm and pulls with a headbutt that sends SheHulk stumbling backwards, then followed up with a straight punch that would've sent her flying off into the distance. But Superboy acted and caught her from the rear before she could get too far.
SheHulk: "Hnn.. Thanks, Superboy." Jennifer expresses her gratitude as she grimaces from the hits she took but seconds ago.
Superboy: "Don't thank me just yet.. Can you still fight?"
SheHulk: "'Course I can! I ain't made outta' glass, you know." And upon those words, another roar erupts from the menace before them. The beast guns for the two, but Connor was prepared; eyes illuminating into a deathly, burning crimson - he fires off his heat vision right into Doomday's chest. The radiant beam burns before a sudden explosive burst sends the monster rocketing away.
Superboy: "Get ready!"
SheHulk: "Ready as I'll ever be." With that said, Connor steps around as he grips at her forearm. Advancing forward with a spin, then another before he tosses her like a torpedo into the sky - but particularly right at Doomsday. He follows via flight right after.
Like thunder, Jennifer caught up and struck the beast with a blow that rung through the heavens, stunning him enough for her to form a solidified lock-hold, one that would make sure he landed face first into whatever awaited them down below. A sight Connor not only observes, but follows along beside. Iron Man and co weren't far behind, either.
SheHulk and Doomsday land smack dab in the middle of the Manhattan Bridge with a THOOM!!. A small crater being the aftermath. Connor swoops down with haste and lands with the soles of his boots sliding along the surface. Fortunately, the bridge wasn't too populated presently - thus giving civilians a chance to turn tail and split the scene. Good thing too, because the great ugly beast forces She-Hulk off him with sheer strength, then the pummeling commences. Before Doomsday could rise completely, Connor lounges in with a punch to the jaw. The previously stumbling green powerhouse dashes back and delivers one of her own. Out of synch, but within a rapid session of blows, the both of them wail away at him with no apparent end. Keeping him down and kneeling.
Superboy: "Don't fight it, you'll just make it worse!" A peculiar choice of words that caught Jennifer off guard, and her hesitating and looking over with a puzzled expression.
She-Hulk: "Woah, what kind of household did you grow up in, exactly? You can't say things like that!" Likewise, Connor finds himself distracted and focused on her disapproving gaze.
Superboy:"What? Did I say something wrong?" In that moment was all Doomsday needed to finally turn the table. He raises whilst striking the two standing over him with an uppercut each, then follows up with straight punches in a similar fashion, simultaneously sending them both flying in opposite directions. The creature still has its prejudice to some degree, thus went after Superboy with a leap. Sadly, before Connor collects his wits, he was introduced to the mass of muscle and spikes dropping onto his torso. It was undoubtedly painful, but it wouldn't compare to the barrage of blows he took the face afterwards. It was easy to lose track of how many hits he took, each just as vicious as the last. Each made his head spin just as much as they drew blood. Connor cries in out in pain as he struggles to maintain his consciousness, unable to keep a coherent thought, praying it came to an end soon — that someone would save him.
Lo and behold, Iron Man answers the unspoken call. In his recently arrived Hulkbuster suit no less.
Iron Man: "Mind if I cut in? No? I didn't think so either." He came out of the blue and carried Doomsday off by the spikes protruding out of the abomination's back, dragging him into and even through the pavement that made up the bridge's surface.
Connor lays there in a daze, a creeping darkness threatening to cut him off. His vision went in and out, the concept of time completely lost to him. He couldn't keep track of how many times he closed and opened his eyes.
???: "Hey, kid. Are you still with us? Can you hear me?" He hears a voice — a familiar one, but his brain couldn't properly put a name to it. Opening his eyes barely helped, considering everything was in and out of focused.
Superboy: "Huh...?"
???: "Good, he's still breathing. Think you can patch him up, Dr. Rowe?" Another familiar voice.
Rowe: "Oh, certainly! He's tough and prone to make quick recoveries. He'll just need plenty of sunlight to be good as new."
Superboy: "Ms. Rowe? Rogers? Falcon? I'm still alive?"
Falcon: "Yeah, just barely. You're gonna' be okay though."
Captain America: "You were brave our there, son. Are you holding up alright?"
"F* my life... EVERYTHING hurts. Hurts so much.. Did we at least win?"
Falcon: "The fight is still going, actually.. Tony and Jen are still trying to hold him off."
Superboy: "Wonderful..."
Captain America: "Tony says he's hatching a plan, so there's still hope for this. They're trying to get him somewhere barren, a place without a population."
Rowe: "Not only that, but I brought you more of those red space crystals you like so much!" To that announcement, Connor looks over with wide eyes, his fascination piqued.
"Oh... Do— do you have them with you right now, by any chance?"
Rowe: "Why, yes! I have them in this little steel container right here beside me." She answers, retrieving the mentioned item to present to the kryptonian. He politely plucks it out of her hand and fetches a crystal out, soon holding it over his face to study it. He smiles. He could feel the energy that emitted from it.
"Much appreciated. You saved me here." He informs before his eyes go ablaze again, fiery red that disperse a concentrated beam at the crystal that, overtime, reduces it to vapor smoke. Smoke he inhales entirely with his powerful lungs and a deep breath. The others observe with concern and curiosity. The youth's injuries began healing almost immediately.
"Yeah, that's the stuff..." He murmurs as he raises to sit up, holding the container open as he repeats the process with two more shards from the bunch inside.
Captain America: "I— Son, what are you doing? What is that stuff?" Rogers askes. After shutting the container, Connor looks over with a wide grin and eyes of pure, unsettling red.
"Courage." He answers simply and pushes himself onto his feet, no longer hindered with aches or dizziness.
Falcon: "We definitely should have a thorough discussion about what we just saw, but there's a more pressing matter at hand. You good to get back to it, Superboy?"
Superboy: "Definitely. Hold this for me until later? I'll come back for it." He requests and hands the small container back to the blonde.
Rowe: "S-sure! No problem!"
Captain America: "Hold on, I'm coming with. Mind taking me along, Superboy?"
Superboy: "Not at all."
————-
{ A Moment Later... }
The trio arrive on the scene to see She-Hulk practically standing on her last leg, and Tony's Hulkbuster worn and damage, barely functional. Locked in a standoff in the middle of a neighborhood.
Captain America: "Tony, we're here. Superboy is with us, too."
Iron Man: "Oh, good. I was starting to worry a little bit. Just a tiny bit. Kid, think you could use your talents to get him somewhere far, somewhere preferably without life? I'd do it, of course, but you weren't kidding about the adapting part. The guy has been using freakin' heat vision to fry my suit!"
Superboy: "Shouldn't be too much of a problem at all. I got this." As confident as his tone, Superboy advances within a glide toward the glaring fein. When he was so daringly close, Doomsday reaches to enwrap the kryptonian in a bone-crushing embrace, but all it took was a simple duck before Connor was where he wanted to be: close enough to press his palms against his foe's abdomen and discharge a burst of TK energy to send him abruptly flying once more. This time with far greater force, and enough to send the creature away from civilization, where nothing but a road that stretched endlessly and tumbleweeds lies in wait. When Doomsday lands and raises a smokescreen of dirt, Superboy was right there behind him to land just as hardly upon the creature's torso. Feet spread and at either side of Doomsday's midriff, Superboy activates his tactile telekinesis to keep the beast and his limbs pinned to the ground before a flurry of unshackled punches began - quaking the ground for miles and miles with every blow delivered.
Superboy: "Still think this was a good idea!? Huh!? Nobody messes with Superboy - with me and gets away with it!"
Iron Man: "Hey, kid. I'm sure you're having a super therapeutic moment right now, but I'm gonna' need you to put some space between you and him if I'm going to take care of it."
Superboy: "I hear ya. Just. A. Few. More. Seconds." Connor responds, striking Doomsday with every pace of his words. As strong as he was, it just wasn't enough to keep his formidable foe off balance for long; mimicking the kryptonian's favorite ability, the creature's eyes went ablaze with a familiar fiery red. A sweep of beams that reaches toward the sky, Connor was blasted off and sent flying away.
Iron Man: "Hm. Yeah, that should be plenty enough.." Tony comments as he watches from a distance.
Iron Man: "Deploy the beam at Hulk level on the coordinates, Friday. Asap."
Friday: "Discharging the beam now, Tony." And with that, a beam of energy that resembles a phenomenal tower shoots down from the sky and space in almost an instant, engulfing Doomsday who seemingly roars in sheer agony and anger.
Barely out of reach of the unimaginable amount of energy shooting down, Connor watches it through squinting eyes. It seems for sure this was likely going to put that beast down for good, but something peculiar happens.. A boom tube abruptly opens behind Doomsday, just barely visible within the blinding light, and pulls him in with a powerful suction. Then, he was gone. Seconds later, the beam finally ceases.
Falcon: "Did we get him?"
Captain America: "Looks like we did.. I don't see any trace of him."
Iron Man: "Kid, what's the verdict over there?"
Superboy: "He... he disappeared.."
Iron Man: "So the beam did its job? Nice."
Superboy: "No, no... I mean— I think someone took him."
She-Hulk: "You mean someone or something saved that thing?"
Iron Man: "Yeeeeeah... That's definitely not a good sign."
End.