TITLE: A Different Kind of Hiro
AUTHOR: William Rayne
EMAIL: knytmare@yahoo.com
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: None
DISTRIBUTION: FanFiction.net, email me
DISCLAIMER someone else owns 'em, I'm just taking them out to play. Don't sue me, I have no money
FEEDBACK: Desired like none other.
NOTES AND NEWS: Added in detail to the prologue of this story and edited 'Under a Rising Sun' chapter one (just grammar and some small details that shouldn't effect plot). I hope I get across that my vision of Krypton is that it's primarily a Matriarchy versus our Patriarchy. Let me know if I should become more detailed on that.
Oh yeah, in my stories, I'm interpreting the meanings of the traditional Superman symbol and the Smallville (Jor-El branded) symbol to mean whatever fits my stories best…I apologize for confusion b/c I'm lazy. Plus, AU, I think I have some leeway to fudge a bit.
As always: bold italics for stressed, italics for thoughts or voice-over, and underlines for sarcasm or disgust.
Oh yeah, I'm horrible with tenses, so please forgive me, I'll try to clean and tighten that up some in the future.
188
A Different Kind of Hero
Chapter 1
Metropolis, Mid-January 2023
It was late at night Superman landed on the rooftop of an apartment that was four blocks from his building, taking great care that no one saw the landing. Using his x-ray vision, he confirmed no one was nearby and supersped to grab his street clothes and change. As Clark Kent locked his briefcase that contained the Superman cape within a false panel, he chuckled to himself. Why'd I ever let Hiro talk me into the cape part of the outfit? It's nothing but a pain. Oh yeah, he did the little brother pout that I still have to work on resisting.
Clark jumped down from the roof into the adjacent alley and emerged onto the street to blend in with what crowd there was. As he made his way back home, he thought of how long it had taken him to acquire the studio apartment that allowed him to make the necessary renovations for his alter-ego. Lex had offered to help in the search but Clark declined politely mainly because Lex would want to know why Clark cared that they would let him renovate. Lex and curiosity was a road that Clark was not anxious to travel once again. The only reason Clark maintained any amount of civility to the man was because of the stubbornness of his brother, Hiro.
Hiro refused to believe that Lex was trying to undermine Superman's efforts as well as trying to destroy the Man of Steel. Hiro believed that all of Clark's suspicions could easily point to Lionel, which made more sense and that Clark was letting old emotions get in the way. Clark argued that Hiro was biased since his 'Uncle Lex' spoiled him when he was growing up. Even Pete put up with Lex because of Hiro.
Hiro had a way of affecting Clark, and those that knew Clark, in ways undreamt of. Maybe it was the baby brother effect or the youthful innocence but none of their cadre could resist the kid's pleading for something, least of all Lex and Pete. From the moment of Hiro's birth, they had self-appointed themselves as his 'Uncles'. There was little objection from any of the Kents.
The dynamic changed with the birth of 'Superman', which also coincided with Lana and Lex becoming a couple. Clark didn't show it, but Hiro and Lex both knew that it didn't sit too well with him. Though Clark would never admit it, he had never gotten over her when they separated at graduation. Pete and Jonathan never cared for Lex to begin with and Clark's new disassociation with him was reason enough for them to give up pretenses. The sole 'X' factor in the whole equation was Hiro's fondness for his 'Uncle Lex'.
Lex showed the same persistence as Hiro in his attempts to make amends with Clark. Despite Lex's and Hiro's best efforts, the anonymity between Lex and Clark was starting to reach mythic proportions. Clark only needed to prove Lex was behind the various schemes Superman encountered in Metropolis in order to sway Hiro against Lex but had only suspicions and no evidence.
Hiro, like his brother, was a meddler and had arranged for 'help' moving out of the dorms from Lex, Clark and Pete by claiming the others were too busy to help out. All were surprised to see one another that day and much to Hiro's dismay, the only exchange that occurred between the two camps was simple pleasantries. Disappointing as his plan may have been, it did have one bright side. They did manage to stay in the same area for a good amount of time without finding an excuse to leave.
As Clark opened the door to his apartment, he sighed and wondered if his issues with Lex would ever become resolved. He wanted to believe that Lex was still capable of good but somewhere between the boy Clark was and the man he became, he had lost his faith in his old friend. Hiro is naïve to believe that Lex hasn't become like or worse than Lionel, he's too far gone for anyone to save.
As he bolted his door shut, Clark felt more tired than he had ever in his life. He sighed, took off his glasses and rested his forehead against the door. If there's any hope for Lex, it lies in my brother. Hiro seems to be Lex's last tie to anything good but why do I have the nagging suspicion that Lex is trying to get to me through him.
Clark loosened his tie and walked to the false wall panel that contained his spare tights. Tripping the hidden release, the wall fell inward, revealing a moderate walk-in closet where his other 'work' clothes hung. The briefcase that contained his cape fell to the floor as he saw the picture of Hiro and him taken at Hiro's last game hanging above the tights. It wasn't the picture itself that unnerved him, it was the message written in blood. The message said,
I KNOW.
Midnight, Roof of 420 Ricker St.
Glancing at his watch, Clark knew he had only a few minutes to meet the messenger and Ricker Street was in Suicide Slums. In a whirl of action, he changed suits once more and sped to confront whoever left the message.
*************************************
Before landing on the roof, Superman scanned it as well as the adjacent area for any sign of spies. Satisfied there were none, he landed on the roof. The moment he landed on the roof, Clark heard a low, gravelly whisper state simply, "My, my. Aren't we the cautious one?"
Clark tried to use his super-senses to find the source but to his chagrin, failed to locate it. This fact didn't unnerve him as much as the nagging familiarity of the voice. It wasn't quite Jor-El's but was, yet with a hint of someone else, someone familiar. "Who's there? Show yourself."
Ignoring Clark's comments, the voice continued, "Then again, Kal-El, you were never a trusting one. Look at your former best friend, for example…"
Clark steeled up more at the sound of his Kryptonian name yet didn't want to tip his hand if it was, by some miracle, Jor-El. Instead he interrupted by saying, "If you know me so well, why don't you show yourself? You would know that I don't like to play games."
The last sentence was said with the finality that brought terror into the hearts of criminals who had the misfortune of pissing off the Man of Steel. The pause in the air only lasted a second before the voice remarked, "Of course, the only games you care for are the ones where you're in control. How…predictable. Your affinity for known and clear rules and boundaries is a weakness. This world, this universe, isn't black and white, good and evil, Pepsi and Coke…well maybe that last one can be clearly defined but you try to force the others into your narrow worldview. That will be your downfall."
Before Clark could rebut the commentary, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye and as he turned to see the source of the movement, his eyes met with a man who was roughly his height and build. The man wore a black spandex-type suit that covered the whole of his body. That wasn't what caught Clark's attention, what caught his attention was the silver symbol that adorned the man's chest. It was the Kryptonian symbol that simultaneously meant 'warrior' as well as 'conqueror'. The symbol is best described as the Japanese yen character within a hexagon. It greatly contrasted Clark's chosen emblem, the Kryptonian symbol which meant 'keeper of tranquility'. Clark's symbol resembled an 'S' within a pentagon. Very few people knew what Clark's crest truly stood for. The emblem the man had chosen was a deliberate mockery of all that Clark and by extension, Superman, stood for.
Clark thought quickly. If the man was also a Kryptonian, which was impossible because Clark knew he was the Last Son of Krypton, then Clark was in trouble. The man could easily match him in strength and speed. Clark opted to buy himself more time to think and analyze his options, "Who are you?"
The man sensed his intentions, "Go ahead and try to find out, the suit contains enough lead to prevent that…but by all means, try. Or you could listen."
Clark confirmed what the man said and even though he had dreamed of finding another survivor from his planet, he remembered the bloody message and cautiously stated, "Then talk."
Clark didn't need to see the smirk to know it was there, it was evident in the gravelly tone. "Isn't that evident, dear brother?"
"Brother? I have no family. I'm the Last of my kind."
"Such arrogance and deceit, you have an adopted family here on Earth. I know because our father allowed you this privilege. Perhaps, I should say I'm your half-brother as these earthlings would term it. We do, in a way, share the same biological father. You may call me, Kon-El. It is, after all, a good a name as any for now," the man said, not in English but in Kryptonian.
Kal-El was speechless. Only years before, researchers in Japan had unearthed some debris that dated back thousands of years to roughly 1500 BCE. When Superman, as Earth's only known alien, was asked help with the investigation, he agreed but only under the most stringent guidelines of secrecy. Once he was confident that his identity wouldn't be compromised, he went to the island to examine the artifact. Upon his touch, the debris activated and shot a familiar white light into his chest. That light allowed him to translate what was apparently a flight recorder for Krypton's first deep space mission. Only a select few have been allowed access to the device and that few were also the only people in the world capable of speaking Kryptonian. Or so Clark had though up until now.
"Our father releases you from your charge. I am to take your place," Kon-El said, reverting to English.
Clark's mind was spinning from the revelation but the impact of those words jarred him from his thoughts and into action. As he threw a quick punch in order to disable Kon-El, he was surprised when the man became insubstantial. The punch passed harmlessly through. Superman turned back for another attack but was met with a strange nausea that felt if Kryptonite were present.
Clark searched for the source and found it, though it was not what he expected. Kon-El had a grip on his arm which felt like it was draining the very life-force from Clark. Kon-El spoke once more, "You fool." Clark's arm grew numb and the man's gloved hand seemed to grow darker as he stated, "You have no idea what I have become, what I'm capable of. Yet I know your strengths and weaknesses. You know nothing of me to attack so blindly. You are not worthy of the quest." For the first time in years, Superman struggled to stay on his feet. The man smiled and said, "My power is far different from yours, a side-effect of acquiring this form. Do not attempt to stop me, this world shall be conquered. You shall be replaced."
With that said, he released his hold, stepped into the shadows and vanished. Within minutes, Clark's strength immediately re-emerged and he spent the rest of the night in search of his newly found nemesis. As he searched, his subconscious found the implications in Kon-El's words and Superman became very worried.
****************************************************
Gotham City, March 2023
Hiro ordered a coffee, kicked his feet up onto the table and tipped back in his chair as he waited for his brother to arrive. Quinn's was one of his favorite coffee shops, here in the city. Sure it was in Gotham, but it was worth the trip by train. Hiro didn't show it, but he was anxious to talk to his brother. I should've done this a month ago. He'll probably bitch me out for not doing this a month ago. He's got his own problems, but I don't think I can handle this on my own anymore. I'm going to need his help.
Hiro's thoughts were interrupted by a hand grabbing his right shoulder. Without thinking, Hiro grabbed the owner's wrist with his left and while simultaneously using the instability of his chair and his own weight to drive his elbow back into his assailant's solar plexus. His elbow met a brick wall and he grit his teeth from the pain.
Clark, having been caught off guard, didn't know what his brother was thinking but was forced to play along lest he reveal his secret identity. Grabbing his 'injured' stomach, he fell to the ground alongside his brother. "Jesus, Hiro, what are you playing at?" he gasped.
"Sorry, bro, didn't know it was you," Hiro looked around to try to calm anyone who might have thought of calling the police for this altercation then remembered where he was. Gotham City folk, gotta love them. Nothing short of murder will make them get involved. Come to think of it, they might not even then.
Clark and Hiro got up and resituated themselves. Clark began, "What if I'd been some kid wanting your autograph? That was reckless of you."
"Look, Clark. I said I'm sorry," Hiro shot back. Stupid. This isn't how I wanted to start this off.
"Whatever, Hiro," Clark said back as he became testy as well.
"Can we not do this right now, Clark?" Hiro said and added as his brother rose to leave, "No, I mean bicker. I really need to talk to you."
Clark could've sworn Hiro's voice almost cracked and now that he thought about it, he also thought he heard fear in Hiro's voice. Clark calmed down and said softly "What's the matter, Hiro? You sound…"
"Scared?" Hiro snorted then glanced about and said in a whisper that only Clark could catch, "I am. Can we go for a 'walk' and chat some."
Clark nodded taciturnly and as the waitress came, he paid for the coffee that Hiro had ordered.
******************************************************
As they walked the streets of Gotham, Clark ducked into an alleyway nonchalantly and a few minutes later, Hiro was picked up in a blue blur only to find himself on a cliff with Superman floating in front of him.
"So, talk," Superman stated plainly as the sun began its impending decent towards the horizon, signaling that dusk was only hours away.
"You gonna let me finish once I start?" Hiro asked and as the two glared at one another, Hiro broke the silence once more, "Seriously. No lectures, questions yeah, but no lectures until I tell you everything."
Clark hovered before his brother. His face became the mask of steel, though he knew that Hiro could see through it as easily as Clark could look through walls. He weighed the consequences of his answer and finally gave a slight nod.
"It started about a month and a half ago, at first I thought I had been out drinking too much," as he stated the last part, Hiro glanced up at Clark, anticipating the reaction, and said pointedly, "Remember, you promised no lectures."
Clark grimaced and, though clearly upset, nodded for Hiro to continue.
"Anyways, I slowed down on the drinking some last month but it still happened. I'd wake up in the morning, having no idea what I did the previous night. Sometimes waking up in places that where I don't think I would ever go to…let alone pass out at and sometimes in places I'd passed out at before.. But over the past week, it's gotten worse," Hiro said, the distress in his voice becoming obvious and unrestrained.
*******************************************************
Krypton, Eve of Destruction
As Lara and Jor-El watched their son's ship ascend towards his destiny, the doors of the laboratory blew inward violently. The last heirs to the glorious House of El on Kryptonian soil turned towards the source, unsure whether to breathe a sigh of relief or gasp of surprise.
"Lara and Jor of the House of El, you are bound by law to stand down. The Great Council of Krypton has ordered your arrest for the crimes of Heresy and Treason," boomed the voice of General Zod with the authority that befits his station. Whether the small phalanx of troops was for expected trouble or to drive home the severity of the crime was not clear. Their mere presence lent to the gravity of the situation.
Jor-El grasped Lara's hand for support but before he could reply, Lara said with equal authority and defiance as her eyes gleamed with sadness, "You are too late, Zod. It is done."
The two titans of the planet faced off for what would be the final time. Lara was bedecked in the gowns of Kryptonian 'royalty', which included the symbol of the House of El. The black and red gown was simple yet elegant on the Lady of Krypton and the sword at her side accented the ensemble.
Zod was a shrewd man and wasn't about to underestimate Lady Lara. Especially since, on Krypton, the female was truly the most deadly of the species. It was his shrewdness that had earned him the rank of General, the first male in the history of the planet to hold the title. Zod adorned in the Ceremonial garb of his title, which consisted of a simple black suit and gold cape with the golden symbol for 'warrior' and 'conqueror' as clasps for the cape. The Kryptonian force-lance he held completed his attire.
"If that is so, then you have sealed your fate," Zod said with a sneer and motioned with the staff-like force-lance for his coterie of troops to charge forth. They surged forward, around him, like a wave of fire.
Lara and Jor-El of the ancient House of El met the charge with ferocity. Though the guard was skilled, they were no match for Lara and Jor, and the guard fell quickly to the couple's synchronized skill and prowess. Lara and Jor had only 3 left when Jor motioned for his wife to intercept Zod who had decided to lend his hand to the fray. "I can take these three, dearest. You stand the best chance of taking him down. I'll join you when I'm through," as he flashed an electric smile that his son would later make notorious.
Lara nodded and dispatched one of the Amazonian warriors that tried to stop her from approaching the General. Lara's grim determination made Zod smile. This'll be interesting.
The two warriors squared off and after a series of test prods, began to circle one another in search of a weak spot or the perfect moment to strike.
"I'm a bit surprised," said Lara as she threw a faint which Zod played along with only to deflect the true strike.
"Really?" Zod remarked, "About what?"
"Your choice of weapon, it is a coward's tool."
Zod lost his cool for split second and paid for it with a bleeding cheek, "I prefer to think of it as a tool of mercy or pain." The force-lance in question served a dual purpose. While a blunt staff-like weapon, it could let loose a powerful energy charge that could rip through a body with surgical precision. The latter was rarely used since Kryptonian honor considered ranged weapons to be the mark of a coward and by extension, deplorable and barbaric.
"Even if you hadn't sent the child away, your fate was already sealed," Zod said in an effort to distract his opponent. "I had found enough evidence on Earth to convict you and your husband once and for all."
"You went to Earth?" Lara said in surprise and her lapse in concentration resulted in a broken left hand.
"Yes, I did. I found that your husband had tampered with Num-An's memory archive in direct violation the Council's decree on his 'mad' theory."
"Jor is not mad. You and the Council are the ones who are mad not to believe his findings. Our planet is dying. If we hadn't stayed to try to save you fools, we'd be with his brother Zor on the Argos colony. Instead we must save our son from our foolishness."
Zod of the House of Ur laughed, "Not all of us are mad. We were meant to rule that planet as my ancestors argued. It is only because of your family that we are not gods. None-the-less, I am convinced." Zod smiled, "Sadly, the rest of this planet will not be able to take the ship I've prepared to escape this rock's demise tomorrow. Rest assured that I shall raise your son as if he were my own."
Lara saw it all come together and the shock of that realization allowed Zod to disarm her and simultaneously dispatch of her husband with a bolt from the lance. As his physical strike knocked her to the ground, she cried, "You bastard! You were the one who swayed the council against us. You knew the reality of our situation and denied a viable escape plan. And for what! So that you may live as a god or perhaps it was to satisfy the grudge your family has had since we decided to leave the natives to their own fate."
Zod's force-lance glowed before her face. Lara didn't care anymore, her husband lay dead and her only child was to be cradled by the cold depths of space. She smiled regally and laughed. Zod looked at her perplexed, "You laugh that I will raise your son as a fellow conqueror?"
"No. I laugh because my son will not be raised by you. I laugh because your plan will fail Jor's calculations were off. The end of the world isn't tomorrow. It's now, in a few minutes it will start. My son will be free of your mechanizations. I laugh because whether or not you kill me, you too will be dead before you can leave this world."
Zod smiled, "I may die, Lara, Daughter of Kon-El…but your son will be as mine. I reprogrammed the archive. He shall never know his true parents."
The horror of the truth in Zod's eyes registered on Lara, Lady of the House of El, and that was the last expression she wore. Zod stood over his fallen foe and had only a few seconds to enjoy his victory as the first of the earthquakes that signaled the beginning of the end occurred. As the world shuddered, Zod ran out of the laboratory. Perhaps I can still make it to the ship.
*commercial break*
A/N: Yeah, I'm mean with the cliffs, but it all builds up towards what I want in the next chapter. I'll write that between finals. For now, please let me know how well this seems. May have to come back to change things depending on how the other chapters play out but trying to avoid re-writes. I'll warn if there's major changes that'll affect the overall story.