Superman: The Ark of Krypton

Chapter 73

by

Jason Richard

Out in space Lobo was bored out of his skull. As he slumped back in the cockpit, spinning the chamber on his laser revolver, he lamented taking this job. Just a few more hours they said. It won't be long they said. He didn't want to wait to start beating up Superman. He wanted to go now, and he slammed his fist on the console in frustration.

"This a bad time?" the voice came over the communicator.

"Do you have the tech or not?" asked Lobo grumpily, glaring at the vidscreen that came on.

The shadowy figure on screen said, "We didn't get it all, but we did find out something important. He gets most of his energy from direct sunlight, so if you attack at night with the Earth's shadow shielding you he'll eventually run out. We're also sending you a box that can prevent light from getting in…

"So it's explosion time?" asked Lobo gleefully.

The figure sighed and said, "Yes, Lobo, it's explosion time."

"Whoo Hoo!" cried Lobo, strapping himself in, grabbing the controls and blasting his ship through space and back to Earth.

…

"What do you mean I can't talk to him?" Lois demanded of the big, burly man in suit and sunglasses outside of Edward Lytener's hospital room.

"I told you," said the security guard. "For Mr. Lytener's safety we cannot allow anyone into that room, especially not a reporter."

Lois thought about causing a ruckus, knowing that Edward would hear her and let her in, but she didn't want to incriminate him. Lexcorp wasn't supposed to know that the two of them had been talking after all. She wasn't about to give up, however.

"Hey," Lois asked a passing nurse. "These guys can't be allowed here can they? Don't you have security here."

"Not security that can handle some weird alien weapon." said the Nurse, giving Lois a serious look. "If these guys can do that I've got no problem with them."

Lois didn't answer, but her look said it all. The nurse nodded and left, and Lois also walked away, knowing she didn't have any other arguments in her favor. Even then she hadn't given up. She'd just have to find another way to talk to him.

Meanwhile Edward, from within that room, had heard her demanding to be let in, and was grateful that he didn't have to talk to her just yet.

…

After that moment out in space, where he realized he didn't need to breath, Clark thought about his powers differently. Despite the incredible feats he had accomplished with them he still thought of his powers as limited in some way. He could feel that well of energy inside him, and he always thought it could run dry if he was pushed to his limit. After that moment, however, he realized he could tap into the power of the sun and fill that well infinitely.

He found himself thinking about it constantly. As he went home to rest, as he went to work at the Daily Planet, and as he sat at his desk working, he could feel himself taking in more energy from the sun. In fact, he began deliberately taking in more energy, filling himself up with that incredible warmth. He wasn't certain what would happen, or what more incredible feats he'd be capable of as he did, but he couldn't help it. It felt incredible.

"Hey Kent!" said Lois, snapping her fingers as she sat at her desk. "You still with us?"

Clark shook his head. He'd been standing at the window, doing it again. "Uh, sorry." he said, going back to his desk. "It's just...it's a very nice day."

Fortunately it really was a clear blue sky outside so Lois took him at his word, but Clark was still a little embarrassed. He really needed to pay more attention to the here and now...well the now at least. He was listening for trouble in other places of course.

Also his thoughts were on Edward Lytener. Someone had threatened a massive disaster just to make a distraction, and Superman was convinced they would strike again. When and where was only a matter of time.

And yet...he felt ready for it. Even if they had gotten some information from Edward Lytener he was confident he could keep the man safe now. He wasn't going to allow himself to be limited any longer. He would keep absorbing the solar radiation until he could absorb no more.

Despite having to get back to work looking for potential front page news, he couldn't shake that feeling that he truly was limitless.

…

"You did the right thing Mercy," said Luthor, stroking his chin as he lounged in his bathrobe on a pool chair next to his luxury swimming pool. Sometimes he forgot he was actually in an underground bunker.

"You sure Lex?" said Mercy from the nearby vidscreen. "I have this sneaking suspicion Lytener wasn't telling us the whole story."

"It doesn't matter," said Luthor. "With him being targeted by extraterrestrials he's become a liability anyway. I already know exactly what I intend to do with him."

"That fast?" said Mercy. "Isn't he the asset who gave you exactly what you're looking for."

"Sure," said Luthor. "But I still intend to have exclusive rights to selling Superman's weakness. Besides, now that I have what I want, I don't exactly need Lytener either. I'll forward you the details about what I want you to do, but be sure to wait until the aliens return. They were so good at distracting Superman before that I'm certain they can do it again."

"Understood," said Mercy as the video feed went blank. Luthor took a sip from a glass of wine next to his pool chair and continued to stroke his chin thoughtfully. Did these recent events mean he was officially in an arms race with beings from another world? He grinned as the thought of the possibilities.