Superman: The Ark of Krypton

Chapter 58

by

Jason Richard

Superman dropped Ma Kent off at the hospital, then retreated so he could come back as Clark Kent. It was as he was flying to a remote place that he started to feel the weight of what had just happened. He had seriously hurt someone he cared about. He couldn't believe it. What were Ma and Pa even doing in Metropolis? After all this time, after how careful he had been to make certain no one got hurt because of him...finally someone had gotten hurt.

He found an alley and flew down, but just leaned against the brick wall for a moment. He could only pray that his mother was okay as he prepared to change back into Clark. But then…

"Kal-El," said JLAI 13. It was that same frequency the AI had used before, the only that only beings like Superman could hear. "I am contacting you over a rather troubling development. I'm not certain why, but your clone has begun something that will likely end in disaster. You may wish to stop him."

…

Faster and Faster Bizarro flew, and within five minutes had reached the ocean. In truth he could tell things were following him. Litter, fallen leaves, water, it all moved just a little as he moved past. What he didn't know was that with his sheer speed air moved out of his way, but couldn't get behind him in time, creating a vacuum that was beginning to pull things towards it. Bizarro didn't understand the implications of this, but was convinced he'd start turning the world away any moment down. He did attract something.

But it wasn't the earth. It was the ocean beneath him that started getting pulled after him.

…

After quickly flying back to his apartment and getting the communicator Superman demanded more information from his trusty AI.

"What do you mean a vacuum?" he said into the tablet like device.

"Just what I mean," said the AI. "He's going way faster in Earth's atmosphere than you ever have, creating a vacuum effect, attracting anything of a certain weight within a mile's radius."

"What's that going to do?" asked Superman.

"Not much over land," said the AI. "Though some minor property damage across the country will be inevitable. The real problem is now that he's over the ocean. The water he's attracting is building, and will continue to build as his speed continues to build. If he continues…"

"No…" said Superman, shaking his head, "He's creating a tidal wave."

…

Poor Bizarro, still distraught from his mistake, didn't notice the wall of water that began forming behind him. If he had he would have stopped immediately, but he was determined to undo his mistake, not knowing that he was making an even bigger mistake.

...

"A massive tidal wave," said the AI. "Given his speed it's difficult to tell which direction he's going, but by my best estimates he'll collide with one of the Philippine Islands very soon."

"Okay," said Superman in frustration. "Tell me how to catch up to him without creating a vacuum of my own."

"You will have to fly outside of Earth's atmosphere," said the AI. "You will be able to match his speed without making a vacuum, and even go faster without wind resistance and gravity slowing you down."

"Can I even survive in space?" asked Superman desperately..

"At your currently mastery of your powers you still need a steady supply of oxygen," said the AI. "You will have to hold your breath...though that shouldn't be a problem for you."

Superman, sighed and said. "Well. I can't waste time."

He took a deep breath, flew outside his apartment, and then flew straight up. Within minutes he was up in the atmosphere, had broken the sound barrier, and was all they way in space. The first thing he noticed was that he did feel a little pressure from his lungs.

The second things he noticed was the planet Earth beneath him. He'd never flown this far out before, and seeing Earth suspended in a starry void would have been an awe inspiring experience if his need right now wasn't so great. Using his telescopic vision he saw Bizarro flying across the ocean, the tidal wave forming behind him. He flew over, getting between the Clone and his ultimate destination faster than he thought he would, then looked down, preparing for what he needed to do.

His previous attempts to reason with the clone had failed, so Superman knew there was only one way to stop him. Silently, he said to the clone in his mind, I'm sorry, and dove, flying back down into the atmosphere, his body surrounded by flames as he dove. Down and down he went, getting closer and closer, wincing as he pulled his fist back, knowing he didn't want to do this. Closer and closer he got to the Clone, and at the last moment Bizarro looked up.

Superman closed his eyes.

His fist collided with the Clone's face, making a sound like thunder that cracked across the ocean, sending a shockwave that rippled the waves as Bizarro crashed into the water. Sadly the tidal wave that formed behind Bizarro didn't stop, but passed over Superman.

As he shook the water out of his eyes he looked over and saw the wave continuing on it's path. It began to slow without Bizarro leading it. It didn't slow enough, however, and Superman could see the Philippine Islands not too far away. Sure enough there was a city right in it's path. As distraught as he was about what he just had to do, he knew he had to stop this...but how?