Superman: The Ark of Krypton
Chapter 24
By
Jason Richard
"So what are you going to do about him?" asked Lois, indicating the groggy purple man tied up in chains next to them.
"Not sure," said Superman, blowing a bit of frost breath over him to keep the cold blooded villain sedated. "I suppose I could turn him into the authorities, but they might not be equipped to deal with him. I don't relish just locking him in a freezer. Who knows what that would do to him...or if his power transfer is even permanent."
Rudy, meanwhile, was trying to think of a way out, but he just felt so sleepy, and Superman kept making it worse by throwing more frost breath at him. Of all the things to be beaten by. A lizard!
"I hope the authorities might consent to have Star Labs look at him," said Superman. "They might be able to devise a way to contain him…"
"And maybe get the rest of your powers back?" said Lois. "You might risk people more people trying to take them for yourselves."
"Good point," said Superman, rubbing his chin.
"A very good point," said Mercy Graves.
Neither Superman nor Lois had noticed Lex Luthor's assistant walk in with a gun raised and two bodyguards beside her. Clark grit his teeth in frustration. Even his hearing had been affected by Rudy Jones. He immediately put himself between Mercy and Lois, shielding her.
"Oh," said Mercy, not impressed. "Still bulletproof are we? Guess I should start shaking in my boots, huh?" Her smirk told Superman that she didn't really believe it. Well, if Lois already knew that this Rudy guy took powers, if made sense that she would to, Superman thought.
As it was, Superman wasn't certain if he was bulletproof now, or if Mercy really could kill him. Of course he figured he was still fast enough to escape the bullets, but Lois wasn't, so he wasn't quite willing to move from that spot just yet.
He did, however, want to keep the hired guns from circling around him, so he let a little bit of heat flow to his eyes, letting them glow red and menacing. The hired goons froze, uncertain of what to do.
"Well that gives new meaning to the term 'evil eye,'" said Mercy, smirking. "But don't get yourself so worked up. If Miss Lane would just hand over what she's carrying, we can all walk out of here without anyone getting hurt."
Lois whispered to Superman, "I got a recording of Luthor talking with wanted gang bosses. I can't let her have it."
"Agreed," said Superman. Then he spoke more loudly. "Stand down. You're no match for me."
Mercy, however, saw Lois's shadow. She was clutching her purse a bit more tightly now. Apparently that was where Lois's recording was kept. Good to know. She had also watched footage online from the live news before coming here. Superman was still fast, but at this distance the moment he closed the gap between him and one of the three gunman in front of him the other two would have more than enough time to shoot Lois down.
Whether he was still bulletproof after having his power drained or not, the situation was still in her favor.
"If you get a clear shot at Lois aim for the purse," she whispered to her men.
Then she took careful aim and fired right at Superman's chest.
His suit, which normally felt as durable as him when he wore it, was suddenly punctured right on the S, as was a few layers of his skin. The bullet didn't get very deep, and stuck out just a little, but it had still penetrated, letting a little blood flow as Superman staggered back from the pain and shock.
"Superman!" cried Lois.
"Hit him with everything you've got!" cried Mercy!
Superman staggered as a couple more gunshots hit his chest. The bullets didn't penetrate very deep, but Superman still felt every one of them as he staggered back.
Lois, behind him, acted quickly, pulling out her advanced taser and shooting the two goons over Superman's shoulders, letting the electrodes bury into their suits and skin to electrocute them into unconsciousness. Mercy herself was directly in front of Superman, so Lois didn't have a clear shot at her, and even had to duck when Mercy aimed a higher shot at Lois's hand.
Taking advantage of the lull in getting shot, Superman focused his heat vision on Mercy's gun, making it too hot for her to hold. The moment she dropped it Superman shouted, "Go! Go!"
They fled the scene, Superman still keeping himself between Mercy and Lois. A good call, as Mercy carried a backup revolver in her uniform. She quickly pulled it out and aimed. Despite getting shot multiple times and taking some damage Superman didn't seem to be too slowed down, and she couldn't get a good shot at Lois.
Her solution, then, was to shoot at the purse swinging on Lois's arm. She got off a couple of shots as it swung into view, hitting the purse each time.
When they left the building Superman grabbed a nearby crate, heaved with his drained but still formidable strenge, and placed it in front of the door, then he left with Lois, getting the heck out of there.
Mercy, meanwhile, knew that he'd probably do something like this, and didn't pursue. Looking down at Rudy Jones she knew she had an easier to contain asset right here, one that was pretty much at her mercy. All she had to do was get him back to the Limo parked nearby. As a Lexcorp Limo, it had plenty of ice on hand. Sure, it was meant for wine, but it should keep this cold blooded, purple power stealing man from moving, for now.