Superman: The Ark of Krypton
Chapter 99
by
Jason Richard
Superman looked around the metal factory, keeping an eye out for the escaped Kryptonian criminal, but also for the factory workers who were still evacuating. He would rush them out himself, but that could leave him open for attack. For a moment Superman was still as machinery kept running and workers ran as fast as they could.
Then Zod attacked, flying out of his hiding spot behind lead blocks, punching Superman with a sound like thunder, and flying away to another hiding place.
As Superman spun through the air he made certain to stop himself before he crashed into anything. He tried to find Zod again but the enemy was well hidden. Too late he heard another rush of air as Zod came up behind him and kicked him in the back, sending Superman flying once again.
Superman collided with a piece of machinery, breaking it off its hinges, but Superman was able to catch it before it landed on some workers, still rushing to get out. Superman got ready to gently put it down but then realized that this was when the other Kryptonian was likely to strike.
So when he heard air rushing Superman dropped the machine, turned around, and punched the other alien in the face, sending him crashing through the factory walls.
And he caught the machine again before it hit the floor, setting it down gently, before flying out of the building to pursue this other Kryptonian.
Zod, meanwhile, found himself pleased, even if he had been punched in the face. He slowed himself down and rubbed his jaw. The one Kryptonian who survived their planet's destruction outside the protection of the Phantom Zone was apparently resourceful. In a strange way, it gave him hope for their species. Of course, that symbol on his chest came from Jor-El's house. He wasn't certain how he felt about that.
He couldn't marvel at all of this for long, as Superman flew towards him yet again. Zod actually grinned. Knowing neither really intended to kill the other at this time, he figured he might just enjoy learning to use these new powers.
…
Lytener was informed that he had a phone call, and was escorted through the prison to a room with a single telephone on a table. Lytener sat down, picked up the receiver, and said, "Yes?"
"Mr. Lytener," said General Lane on the other end. "I think it's about time you reconsider my offer."
Lytener rolled his eyes saying, "Why would I do that?"
"You remember when an alien probe showed up?" asked the General, a smug undertone to his voice.
"Yes," said Lytener uncertainty, remembering quite well how the probe had attacked him and jammed a needle into his head. "Is...is there another alien here now?"
"That's right," said the General. "A few hours ago we detected a disturbance, like the once Superman stopped. Seems an alien got through this time, and he's fighting Superman as we speak. Interestingly his powers are pretty much exactly the same as Superman's."
Lytener could feel the blood leaving his cheeks as he realized what that meant.
…
Zod flew away again, trying to keep the blue and red Superhero off his back. Still using the aerial maneuvers he learned as a fighter pilot he was barely able to keep out of reach of the much faster Kryptonian as he bobbed and weaved through the air over the city. Clearly, the hit and run approach hadn't worked, so Zod knew he would need a new strategy.
And seeing how Superman had tread so lightly around those people in the factory, he knew what he had to do. Zod was a soldier and was prepared to accept collateral damage. This Superman, clearly, wasn't.
So Zod flew down, picked up a car, and threw it into a group of people.
Superman realized in horror what Zod was doing, flew over, picked up the car and placed it down. Soon, however, Zod was flying over and throwing cars in every direction. Superman flew to each of them and placed them down, but there were a lot of them, and Superman had to slow down or risk smashing the car against her ground and making a shockwave.
And it was while setting one of these cars down that Zod managed to fly in and land a punch, the impact of which reverberated through a quarter of the city, making people cover their ears.
Superman managed to stop himself in midair, but Zod was on him in seconds, throwing a barrage of lightning-fast punches at the hero. Superman tried to fight back, but he was still dazed from that last blow, and Zod was fighting furiously, using all his battle experience to predict his opponent's moves. This gave him just enough of an edge to close the gap between their power and speed. For a few minutes, Zod had the upper hand.
And after one particularly powerful punch, the shockwave heard for miles, Superman actually lost consciousness and fell. It wouldn't take him long to get up, but Zod figured he had just enough time to go after that scientist. It the information he had been given was correct, the scientist should be in…he looked around for a moment...That direction, which is where Zod flew, right as Superman landed on the ground, cracking the asphalt beneath him.
…
Lytener was in a panic. What if the Kryptonian came for him? What would he do? He couldn't defend himself from that, not without his technology. Actually, Lytener had been planning a way to get himself out of that prison if something went wrong, but he was nowhere near ready for that.
Suddenly, in the background of the phone, Lytener heard, "Sir, we just got a visual confirmation. Superman is down. Repeat, Superman is down."
"It...it's too late," said Lytener, terrified. "He's coming for me. Even if I do accept your help what can you do? He beat Superman!"
Suddenly the doors to that wing of the prison opened to reveal General Sam Lane with his cell phone, grinning confidently as Edward Lytener stared at him in astonishment. How had he gotten there so fast?
"I don't know," said the general, putting the phone away. "But I'm sure I'll think of something. You in or out?"
Lytener nodded, seeing no other choice.