The Never Ending Battle
Clark Kent, Kal-L, Superman, the first Superman had come home, so to speak. He was flying into battle beside the original Green Lantern, now the Sentinel, just like old times. But these were not old times. Clark lost his existence in this universe during the crisis. His wife, Lois, was saved by Alexander Luthor to live the rest of their lives together. And even though Clark might not be as fast or strong as the Kal-El Superman, he still did not get sick and so watched his wife die of cancer. He came to look at this world one last time. He has already spoken to the young Clark but did not give him time to figure out why he came one last time to see old friends. But leave it to an old comrade to lay it to you straight.
"Don't do it, Clark", Sentinel said, "Lois wouldn't want it this way", then flew off to battle.
Clark hung back and watched from a short distance. He could not be Superman here so Alan had brought him a spare suit of Carter Hall, the original Hawkman. He never did like masks but his x-ray vision allowed him to simply act as if it wasn't there. But that wasn't his main concern at this moment. Standing before him, causing all the hero's to fall left and right, was one of his greatest enemies. A man that should have been dead. A man whose universe was the same as Clark's, non existent. Alexi Luthor was back and he seemed to be wanting… who knows what. Which was strange for him. Alexi loved to hear himself talk.
And as Clark began to join the battle a girl… no, a woman in a blue and white costume with a red cape sped past Clark yelling, "Move out of the way!"
And a whisper went past Clark's lips, "Kara", which proved to be almost lethal. Kara slowed down in surprise and Alexi nailed her with a blast of power which dropped her to her knees. And before Clark could react, Alexi nailed her with a punch.
"KARA!!!!!!!!!", screamed Clark as he put on a burst of speed towards Alexi before he to was hit by a ray. It hurt and actually knocked Clark down. Instead of getting back up he waited. Among all the fallen hero's Alexi had been gradually moving towards the younger Superman and heard him ask, "I bet you spell your name with an 'El' don't you 'Superman' ". So instead of rising back up for battle, Clark listened.
"Kal-El. Do you know how many worlds I have gone to looking for Superman? Oh, there has been too many to count. Do you know 'El' that I am actually dead? Why yes, 'El', I am. My universe doesn't exist anymore. That's right it's gone. No where to be found. I actually was almost dead before it was destroyed. Braniac had some imbecile try to destroy my mind. it almost worked. You know, if I hadn't of had some contact with the other Luthor I might have died. He had defenses for all known villains. I actually thought it quite funny that he had more files on them than on you or any other hero. As I was waking up, I found a spare battle suit of Luthor's and hopped right in it. At least I thought it was a duplicate suit. It seems that Luthor had built a trans-dimeisional device that could travel the different universes. There only seemed to be one problem. When I turned on the device I was thrown through time. I saw you defeat the anti-monitor and then I saw blackness. There was no telling how long I had been there but then I saw him. My old arch foe on another world that had no heroes. I thought I could finally destroy him. But something went wrong and I skipped over that universe. I found another one, though I didn't know it at the time. At first I thought I had traveled in time until that damned Batman shouted 'Kal-El'. It's hard to tell but there is a slight distinction. I found out you were Kal-El and killed you just like I was getting ready to do now"
The younger Superman asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"It doesn't matter. You aren't him"
And then Clark stood up tore his wings off and walked towards Alexi. Alexi had a smirk on his face and shot out a burst of fire. But Clark continued to walk through the flames and before Alexi could get a grip on what was happening, knocked Alexi for a huge wallop. Then Clark began his own speech.
"Truth, Justice, and the American way. You know even when I started out that sounded corny. The man of Steel. That wasn't a bad name to be associated with. You know what one name I didn't really like, the Man of Tomorrow. It was probably one of the first names associated with me but I felt it separated me from a regular Joe sitting around drinking a cup of coffee. I absolutely despise it now . My wife is gone, dead from cancer, CANCER! All the traps people sprung on her and she died of Cancer", and then removing Hawkman's helmet, "I don't know what you are up to or why you are here messing my life up again, but it ends now. And for the record, my name is Kal-L, Superman if you will".
Alexi stood up, walked towards Clark, and put a force field around the two of them as the other hero's began to awaken. And as the Hero's look upon the two of them, knowledge pours forth into their brain. The younger Superman recalls this elderly gentleman and his visit a short while ago. From the shadows, Batman remembers another Huntress who was the daughter of another Batman. He then remembers hers and that earth's Robin's death during the crisis. One by one, memories come and understanding passes between all. Except for one who rushes to the field and tries to break down the barrier. Trying and trying until the younger Superman holds her and Kara breaks down and cries. Kal-L simply puts a hand to the force field and smiles at her. She in turns reaches up and does the same.
"This is touching", began Alexi, "a family reunion. Superman, my old foe, I am here simply to kill you and then I will be done. I hate you for surviving. I hate you for always messing up my plans. So it comes down to the final battle. I promise you this, old foe, the only way to defeat me is to take the suit off of me. I have had it modified so if I come out of it I die. the power source is unknown to me but seems to have a special red sun effect in it. I know you can't kill so it's truly up to me. prepare to die".
"No, Alexi, you don't get it. After Lois died, I could care less about your life. I didn't come here to visit old friends, I came here to pay respects. I have no will left to survive with out her. I came here to die".
And so the battle was joined. Luthor hit Kal-L with all the force he could muster and Kal-L would come back with the same. The hero's gathered around and were forced to only watch. They witnessed Luthor gaining an edge over the man of steel. He wasn't as young as he use to be plus he was never as strong as Kal-El. His uniform was in shreds, no cape left that you could tell, and bleeding from his lips and brow. Kara and Kal-El kept trying to penetrate the shield but to no avail. And then when it seemed as if Alexi was giving the death blow, Kal-L caught the energized fist of Alexi and crushed his hand. Alexi's screams might have been heard throughout the whole city. Kal-L then began to pummel Alexi into submission. And then when Kal-L was ready to rip the suit straight off of Luthor, he stopped and retreated towards the back of the field.
Alexi laughed, "You don't have it in you, old man. Oh God, this is to funny. You came here to die but couldn't even kill me to do it. Well, here is a parting present before I go, you damned old goat".
From the non-crushed hand, Alexi found a device and pressed the button. The two Supermen knew right away what it was for only their super hearing could pick it up. With trained telescopic eyes, two missiles were sighted headed for different parts of the world. Both the Supermen went after them, with the elder receiving help from Power Girl. And when they came back, Alexi was gone. According to the Batman, as soon as the Supermen were gone a vortex opened up which Alexi escaped through. If Batman was right, and when wasn't he, Alexi slipped through a vortex of hypertime. In the meanwhile, little by little, the hero's soon forgot that Kal-L was even there. He had already replaced the Hawkman helmet and flew back gradually until he was far from sight. All the hero's remembered were Superman and Power Girl defeating a man in powerful armor.
Kal-L looked from a top of the Daily Star building once again. He had changed back to his flannel shirt and jeans with glasses. The Spectre standing beside him.
Clark began, "So this is it, Hal? No more saving the world from destruction. I guess it had to end sometime".
"Not necessarily, Clark", a new voice said from the other side of the building.
"How do you know me? I'm dead here".
"Not to me, Clark, because I use hypertime on a regular basis. My name is Jonathon, Jonathon Kent".
Surprised Clark replied, "Well… that's interesting".
Laughing Jonathon continued, "It's a story for another time. Alexi did have a good point though, you are the only Kal-L known to hypertime. Maybe the merging of the universe's caused you to be the different. Maybe with Alexander Luthor saving you and your Lois caused some kind of rift. Who really knows? There are so many different possibilities. Come with me. Join my team to battle the menaces of hypertime", and extended his hand to Clark.
Clark turned away, "No. Lois isn't here anymore. She helped me become who I was. Even if I found someone else they would die before me to. I will not go through that again. I have watched friends and family die. Even the friends here like Alan or Jay will eventually die and I will be alone again. I can't deal with that again. I made a deal with the Spectre. He'll take me to the after life and I can be with Lois again".
Then finally the Spectre spoke up, "Clark, a deal has been made with you. The Host has deemed you worthy. He will send you what you need. Take this, Clark, and be the Superman you need to be".
"What do you mean he will send me what I need?"
"He means, you have to put up with us for a very long time, old friend".
Turning around with his jaw seeming to hit the ground, Clark saw three figures walking towards him. One was his former best friend, Bruce Wayne. On Bruce's arm was his wife, Selina. And in the distance, the most beautiful women he had ever laid eyes on.
"I must be dreaming", Clark said as tears went down his cheeks.
"No, it's not a dream, Clark, it's really me", Lois stated as tears were also running down her face.
"It seems we have been giving a second chance at life", began Bruce, "even Dick and Helena are waiting for us".
"It will be a purrfectly, wonderful time", exclaimed the former Catwoman.
"Join us, Clark", began Jonathon, "Help save the many worlds to come"
Suddenly Clark, Bruce, and Selina were in costume. A Vortex had opened and Clark saw the others waiting for them to come through. He looked at his wife and her smile said she wouldn't miss it for the world.
"I guess 'the never ending battle' takes on a whole new meaning now, huh?"
Jonathon stated, "It will not be easy. In some places you might fight your regular enemies, in other places your enemies might be controlling the world, and still in others it might be you fighting different versions of yourselves".
"Are these world's in danger of collapsing in some sort of manner?"
"Yes"
Clark took his wife and planted a kiss upon her lips. He Rose into the air and flew towards the vortex. As the others watched he turned around with a smile, "Are you coming? We haven't got all day you know." And into the vortex they flew.
And as the vortex closed one being still standing there whispered this quiet prayer, "Be with them, Lord" and then the Spectre himself went to where he was needed the most… wherever that may be.
The End
