Chapter 10: Time Is Not On Our Side

The Stolen SS Proud Sailor, 2 miles off the Argentine/Brazilian Coastline

"Can't this fucking sub swim any faster?!", Lex screams with extreme anxiety, holding an open piece of Kryptonite in his palm towards Superman. "That damned robot isn't going to sit there forever!" "Relax, that sword is magic. The more energy you put against it, the more energy it sucks outta ya", Wilson replies in his usual drawl. "It worked on Big Blue, it'll certainly work on a machine made in his backyard."

"Theoretically, yes", adds Grodd, "but machines—" "It has his strength, his speed, all his powers AND they all come from the sun. It'll give us enough time to run back to Metropolis and end Big Blue in front of everyone." "We're gonna what?!", Manta exclaims. "I thought the plan was to suppress the robot and fight Superman on our own terms!" "That was the plan of Daddy Warbucks, but I'm calling the shots now, y'here?", Wilson barks intensely.

"My plan was flawless—" "Except you didn't think like a dumb machine about it, you thought about it like one of us! That machine doesn't follow our rules, it does the mission until it's done or forces it to be done. It's that simple, and efficient", Wilson tactfully lays out.

"Plus, it's basically Superman as a crazy Terminator. How we gonna fight a killer like that? You have to take what it wants, gain guaranteed weaknesses for it, and then use them. We have what it wants, jammed magic in its chest, and now we're gonna use a Super to fight a Super. Zoom's fast, but Blue here outruns him. This robot is gonna outrun both Zoom and Cheetah, so use something that's actually gonna win. Let them kill each other and take a L on this. There's two in your name already."

"That's it!", Lex shouts vigorously, dropping the green rock directly on Superman's chest and barreling towards Wilson. "You dirty Alabama basket of a hunter, how DARE you insult me and my work just to make yourself Mr Hot Shot!" "Enough of this in fighting!", Manta barks, throwing a nearby spear in between the two. "We failed because our enemy is too strong, regardless of our plans. All we can do now is use what's available. Now shut up, please!"

"But he's—" "He's who he is! We're a team, and we better start working like one unless you want to lose again and again." "Ok, Mom. Can you get off our backs now?", Wilson snickers. "Grodd?" "Yes, Manta?" "How good are you at piloting submarines?" "We have none in Gorilla City, so I have no training—" "Auto pilot it is." "Wait, auto pilot? Won't it go faster in auto pilot?", Lex asks. "No, same speed, same basic direction, Mr I Know And Own Everything. I just need to make sure this boat sails while I beat the absolute orange outta Wilson's armor."

"So you really do want a gun to your domed head, don't ya, boy?" "Maybe you want to taste spear, redneck!" "REDNECK?" Suddenly, the onboard radio buzzes into the sub's frequency. "Attention, Legion of Doom members", dryly states a disturbingly familiar robotic voice.

"I am headed to your submarine in less than ninety seconds. I am functioning at 85% power, as your simple bladed weapon will serve as your downfall. Only a fool could forget that regardless of where the magic originates, the machine has little fear of it. So speaks Brainiac of Krypton, your extinction."

"…Lex, where's the green alien death rock?", Wilson begs. "Where's the rock, man? Where's the rock?!" "How advanced would you say is this sub's GPS?", Grodd asks, scurrying towards the front of the vessel. "This is barely a 90s era sub, it's quite old. Don't try to hack in it." "I'm not going to try, I'm going to hack it and get us teleported out of here. I refuse to deal with that THING ever again!"

"Bring her up, David. I will not die in the ocean; my country deserves to bury me", Wilson told Manta, with a tinge of fear and acceptance in his voice. "What? No! I'm gonna glide us outta here! That machine may know how to fight and track, but it don't know how to swim!" "No, Manta. I've already set up the teleportation device's coordinates for Metropolis Harbor, we can outrun this automaton for now."

"You and your pitiful underwater vessel have forty five seconds before I board. Prepare for your death." "Grodd, get her ready for travel, NOW", Lex barked, grabbing a lifeless Superman as a human shield. "Manta, this is your ship—" "OUR STOLEN LAST MINUTE GETAWAY SUB", he corrected. "Ahem, just press the red button, sea captain", Grodd scoffed. A large BOOM echoed throughout the ocean floor, causing the waves to ripple out of control.

Near The Metropolis Harbor

"SUPERMAN! SUPES, WHERE ARE YOU?", shouts a rather young man in form-fitting red and yellow tights. "Are ya here, or in here, or in this yacht? How about this abandoned warehouse, or the one on the other side of town? OK, he's in neither, where are ya where are ya where are ya? Everyone back at the Hall say you never miss a meeting and I know you're not gone like Uncle Barry so you're somewhere darn it!"

Suddenly, a loud BOOM erupts half a mile on the waters of the harbor, catching the eyes of bystanders. "You idiot, that was too close to shore! Now everyone's gonna know we're here", whines Manta. "This is the first time in recorded history a submarine teleported. Pardon me if the science behind its arrival is blurry", sasses Grodd. "Well, well, well. A big boom in the water and a missing Superman. Hope those swimming lessons Garth gave me back in San Fran work, cuz it's time for the Flash to step in! ", he thinks aloud, stretching his neck before a red and yellow blur of speed bursts towards the less than friendly waters.

"You want to WHAT?", Lex bellows furiously. "Look, Zoom isn't that far from here, I think. All we have to do is call him to discreetly bring him to your office—" "Howdy, fellas. Name's Flash, no The in the front, it's a bit old fashioned for me", Flash interrupts, stamping his left foot repeatedly onto the metal floor impatiently. "Now I think you as a gang are holding down a rather important and kind new co-worker of mine. I'll just take him back now to the office and let him hang with us and send you guys to jail for a lot of crimes that I can count here let's see one two three four—"

"OH MY GOD, CHILD! SPEAK ENGLISH, NOT JIBBER JABBER", Manta begs. "Just shut up and run away, kid. You ain't your uncle, and ya damn well know it", Wilson belittles, slyly grabbing a secret gas grenade from his utility belt. "Well, it is my first day officially as Flash, no The in the front, it's a bit old fashioned—" "I heard that the first time, cub", Grodd sternly informs, throwing a piece of nearby piping at him.

"So close, yet so far Magilla speaking of you how's your big hairy kingdom doing man ya need more bananas man I can get ya some", Flash rants while dodging the pipe, putting the pipe back in its place, and smacking the Kryptonite out of Lex's hands across the deck. "C'mon guys, just surrender already. Honestly. I'll give ya to the count of three, preschool style", he gloats, scooping Superman into his arms and throwing him out of the sub via the top hatch.

"H-h-ho-how?", Grodd stammers, shocked at the young hero's speediness. "How did you do all of that so fast?" "Who's the cub now, banana breath?"

Out on the wooden pier boardwalk, Clark starts sitting up, coughing back to consciousness. "Oh good Lord, what happened out there?", Clark thinks to himself, noticing the not Antarctic atmosphere he's in. "Wait a minute, that's… That's the Planet down there! And Lois; she's crying", he starkly realizes as his powers return to him like a dumbstruck of outside input. "She's gotta know I'm ok now. But, Luthor; he's still somewhere along with that Legion of—" "Hey, Superman! 'Member me, Wally West? I'm Barry's nephew, and I'm Flash now, no The in the front that's a bit old fashioned. I already got them tied up in steel pipes and dropped off at One Police Plaza, so they aren't going anywhere soon. Hold up, lemme help you up sir", Wally rushes with a fan-boyish passion and glee.

"Wait, you already took care of-" "Yeah no problem man none at all no sir. It's just so exciting to see you in person ALIVE like wow you're an absolute unit man I need to know your workout routine!" "Son, calm down for me. I have super speed too, ya know?", he nonchalantly comforts, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Yeah, but um, between you and me, you don't have the Speed Force. Uncle Barry taught me some stuff recently." "Recently?" "I'll tell you about it in the Hall."

"Ba— I mean Wally, thank you for the help out there. I appreciate you taking care of business when I was, let's say 'unavailable'. Very kind of you." "Did you just thank me?" "Anyone in my situation would thank you for what you did out there; and so cleanly too!" "You mean it?" "Yep. I do, son. Glad to see you handle this just as he would have." "Superman, we're in public! Stop trying to make me cry out in these streets!" "Alright, if you say so. I'll get another chance later", Superman jokingly replies, knee jerking Wally's chest.

"One quick question for you, Flash with no The", Clark asks. "Was that a super pun?", Wally eggs on. "That pun was made in a flash, young man!" "And it's boomer time. What do you want to ask?" "Well, I may have been gone for too long, and I can hear a very special someone from across town thinking about my safety at this point. She's also thinking about chocolate, for some reason. But I know she's been real spooked lately, and could you tell the League that I'm taking a personal day today? No capes, no meetings, someone very close to me needs a shoulder to hug more than Batman needs to tell me about the budget." "Robin did the same thing, too! Every two Mondays no matter what were budget and gadget nights, and he never let me touch a Bat gadget!"

"Those two really were the Dynamic Duo." "Yeah, they were. But of course, Supes! I'm sure Wonder Woman will understand. Need a hand in grabbing some chocolates, fellow Leaguer?", he winks. "Thanks, but you go ahead. I got this one", Clark replies, flying off in a blue and red blur. "…He really is a super man. Shame I'm still gonna help the dork though", Wally thinks to himself before bouncing off the nearby buildings for air time. "Hey! Superman! Let me try helping you on this one, ok?", Flash asks while scooping him up from the clouds.

END OF CHAPTER 10