Avenging Justice:

Two Worlds Collide

Part XVII

Earth, Delaware, Metropolis

High above the gleaming towers, floated a man in a red cape. Beloved by all of Metropolis, and by a good portion of the world, it hadn't always been that way. There were still many people that feared what he represented, what he had to say by just existing. Others were terrified of the simple message one from the stars could show humanity, acting as a possible reflection to them.

To Superman, none of this crossed his mind. He was up here enjoying a sight not many could, and reflecting on how beautifully fragile the world was. He thought later of bringing up Lois for a late night flight through the city. He loved after all these years, how her breath caught when they went aloft. One of the most formidable women he'd ever met, and totally fearless, she had immediately caught his eye.

Today had been a very busy news day. From Gotham, reports that a gang ware had started. Black Mask was missing and presumed dead. If Clark knew anything, his friend there had everything under control. In fact, he probably planned the whole thing himself. From Central City, the Flash apprehended Captain cold again, but there were losses at Star Labs. Some huge mutant with blades in his hands had ripped apart the security staff. The Central City Police had added officers to aid the crime lab.

The investigation into the robbery at LexCorp was ongoing. Clark wasn't sure that Lex hadn't put someone up to it, in some new deranged plot to take him out. The lengths the man would go to destroy, "the Alien." It was all very tiresome, and very ridiculous. Imagine what Lex Luthor could do, if he put all that energy into helping solve the world's problems.

"Lovely view you got here," a mechanical voice came up behind the Kryptonian. "You are not an easy man to find."

"Hello, Stark," Superman said, having heard him come up. "Or should I call you Iron Man?"

Iron Man pulled in front of Superman, "So you do watch TV. What was it, Youtube, CNN or maybe a little box with ears on it?"

"Did you really come all this way to pick a fight?" Superman asked calmly, which irritated Tony Stark. At least Steve had the decency to eye roll!

The Armored Avenger shrugged, "Vegas has a two to one on us, I'd like to see why the odds are against me." Seeing the indifference on Superman's face, Tony sighed. "No, I promised a very nosy one-eyed man I'd talk to you. He seems to think you would be a great fit for his little boy band."

"I'm sorry, but that makes no sense," Superman replied, already looking for a way to politely leave.

However, something caught his hearing. Metal ripping, bending, and turning on itself. Then came the cries of fear and panic, Superman didn't waste any time. He flew forward at impressive speeds, towards the sounds and possible danger. Behind him, Iron Man looked just a bit startled, before he too jetted off after him. An audible pithy respond lost as the man in the armor blasted away.

Metropolis Special Crimes Unit had a detention area towards the manufacturing district. It was used to hold several superhumans and mutants too powerful for normal lock up. Recently they had acquired several well known mutants, ones that were very dangerous.

The first was an ugly little thing called Toad. Extra long prehensile tongue that could be used as a weapon, he could also jump very far and high. Seeming preternatural instincts made Toad a very hard thing to fight, if not a gross one as well.

Another was a man that was more beast than human. Haloed by a long mane, and sporting sharp fangs and claws, Sabretooth was like a whole different animal. There was a craziness in his eyes, one that let you know he wasn't tamed. A wild streak that would have impressed even Wonder Woman's Cheetah in ferocity.

The other in their group was a young man that could control fire. He needed an open flame, but he could manipulate the size and intensity of that flame as he wished. As such he had built in a lighter to most of his gear and carried one in his pocket, for just in case. However, his jailers had confiscated all that from him.

Then there was the Juggernaut. Not really a mutant, he was no friend to normal people either. Out of hatred of his stepbrother Charles Xavier, he had found the Cytorrak Gem, and became night unstoppable. Unable to remove him from the gem, Metropolis SCU had confined him, keeping him heavily sedated.

There were more, but not more dangerous. Each of these four had something that defined them. That thing the differentiated them from normal knaves and killers, to make them worthy of being called monsters. They were what the normal feared at night, when they read of scary, powerful, frightening beings with strange powers. Even worse, they liked it, even if they didn't know or care for each other that well.

In moments that didn't matter, as each one was given what they most craved, freedom to return to their wicked ways. Made of several layers of reinforcement, each layer had one thing in common, steel. It was very strong, very expensive steel, but it peeled before Magneto's power.

Ripping a hole into the side of the secret prison, he sent the outside wall flying towards the street. Below the homo sapiens ran about in a panic, which was okay with him. They needed to fear their betters, and he needed those they had nefariously locked up inside. Magneto would not stand as more of his people were placed into bondage by the weaker race.

He needed an army, one to protect the new homeland from the world. That meant people that did bad things and liked them. Xavier's belief led him to using children and idealists to protect the Mutant race. It was a foolish, but noble though on Charles' part. Erik couldn't afford such lofty goals, not when his people were in danger. He would bring the world to heel, and make them accept their betters.

"I'm going to have to ask you to stop what you are doing," Magneto heard the unmistakable timber of Superman. He wasted no time.

"I will ask you to stay out of this," Magneto slowly turned in the air. "Otherwise Homo Sapien's champion will fall."

Superman prepared, "I will not ask again. Stop assaulting these innocent people."

"You are of course the fool," Magneto said, sending several small spheres of metal at the nearby civilians.

He saw two things at once. Coming in fast was a bright light behind the shape of a man. The other was Superman diving to protect the innocents, just as Magneto knew he would. The man was a protector, constantly diving in front of dangerous projectiles. If only his abilities could be used in the mutant cause. However, his experience of being invulnerable was about to cost him. Magneto was okay with that.

Superman felt something prick his skin and then nausea washed over him. Strength fled his limbs quickly and he was having trouble standing. He looked down to see blood pouring from where several spheres had impacted into him. Pulling one out, he saw green crystal protruding from sphere now, Kryptonite.

"Whoa there big guy, what's wrong?" Tony Stark's Iron Man caught the falling Superman.

What he saw surprised him, the superhuman looked quite frail and he dropped a small sphere a green crystal embedded in it. His scanners immediately set to identifying it, and only a small excerpt came up on Kryptonite. According to the file, it was deadly to Superman. He couldn't leave him like this.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark," Magneto rumbled. "I can't let you interfere. One has to wonder why one would wear a metal suit, against the Master of Magnetism!"

Tony felt his suit grow laboriously heavy. Even as he tried to move, he was being crushed down, towards the ground. His onboard systems were warning him of the loss of containment, and he felt the magnet powered by his reactor start to disengage. The thing that was keeping him alive, and the deadly pieces of metal away from his heart.

High above Delaware, the X-Men soared in the Blackbird. Having to report in that their trip was a bust, Professor X had them check up on several other mutants around the country. They had been successful, getting many to the underground their leader ran. That underground would get those students to the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. For those in bigger trouble, they would have taken them in the Blackbird. Fortunately, the most dangerous one they had found, was a mutant who turned pink when you lied in front of him.

Beast was tinkering with the radio again, well to call it a radio was an oversimplification. He had created a communication unit using some specs he'd gotten from the dark web. Some of them had logos for LexCorp and Stark Industries still on them. He enjoyed tinkering with the designs, making them better. In this case, he'd been able to cannibalize several radios together, making a Frankenstein creation. Using a little bit of knowledge from Stark and LexCorp, he'd made something untraceable by most people. On top of that, he'd gotten the hologram communication to integrate in well.

Beast smiled widely as the newscast from Metropolis came on in glorious three dimensions. That lasted just long enough for the news special report to break into the regularly scheduled program. He watched in horror as Magneto attacked Superman, and the superhero fell to a knee. Then anger came screaming up.

The scene was replaced as Professor X's face came into focus, "X-Men, I need you to stop Magneto. If he managed to kill Superman, the world will come for all mutants. I know I'm asking a lot of you, and I wish we had more time."

"Don't worry, Professor," Cyclops affirmed as he pushed the Blackbird. "We'll get in there and do our duty."

Down in Arizona, a very worried woman tended to a feverish man. He had been sick since Thor had appeared many days ago. She was one of the few in the world that knew why, knew what he had done to save everyone.

He had spent most of his time sleeping, regaining his strength, and it was only recently that he had begun to eat food. She had been happy when his appetite returned, and felt good as it became voracious. However, she still worried because he seemed to be weaker than she had ever seen him. Not even years ago when they were in high school, and he had just been discovering what he could do, did he look this weak.

The television was on, playing some sci-fi show, Xander loved them and fantasy stories. She had hoped it would bring him some joy, even as she worried over him. He would do anything he could to fix a problem, to make right what was wrong. She would do anything to help him, because he never asked for much from others. He had once saved a girl without realizing she was from a wealthy family, because it was the right thing to do.

"This is Connie Wu from WSTA, Channel 4, Metropolis Beat News," the young, pretty woman said. "We apologize for interrupting your scheduled broadcast, but we are bringing you a breaking story.

The mutant terrorist, Magneto has attacked a building in Metropolis' manufacturing district. Superman and Tony Stark's Iron Man are on the scene, but we must warn you the next few scenes are graphic. Viewer discretion is advised."

The video cut to Superman being hit by several metal spheres, and Iron Man being crushed to the ground. Mara takes a breath, hoping Xander hasn't seen this. She wanted to be there, but she wanted him safe too. He was in no condition to fight, but he would, to save another. He would especially do this to save someone like Superman and Iron Man. She looked over, and he was already shakily standing up.

"You don't need to go," she tried to tell him, knowing she didn't mean it.

Xander gives her that goofy smile of his, "You know I have to."

"You're still sick," she tried to argue.

He grabbed her gently, "And thanks to you, I'm better. From the first day I've met you, I've wanted nothing more than to make you proud of me, and to keep you proud."

"I am, but, but, I can't lose you," she hated the feeling of this, like she really was about to lose him. "I'm going with you, and no buts about that!"

"Indeed," he said as he returned with their uniforms. "Let's go."

Magneto threw Iron Man about like a broken doll. Inside his armor, Tony was desperately trying to restart his suit. Every time he tried, Magneto threw an EMP out, and caused it to shut down again. When he got out of this, he'd have to design better protection for the next suit.

Superman pooled his strength and let his heat vision fly. The two beams of heat head straight for Magneto, and the mutant nearly didn't get a plate of steel up to protect himself. Shocked as the metal melted to slag, he hadn't realized that Superman still had that much power in him. He slung a huge I-beam straight at the superhero.

The deafening roar of a low flying jet distracted him just a touch. A sleek black plane shot by, hovered and landed on the street nearby. Magneto knew Charles' newest toy, and briefly smiled at his old friend come to talk him down. However, it turned out to be his old friend's brats!

Ice Man came out slinging ice, Magneto wasn't impressed. Keeping his attention diverted between the newcomers and Iron Man wasn't that hard, since he could since the metal in Iron Man's armor. However, the bolt of energy coming at him was unexpected. He reinforced his magnetic shield, glad when the beam splintered around it. Then a flying piece of debris came at him, and he just managed to get out of the way.

It was time to step up this game. Throwing Iron Man straight at the ice encrusted X-Man, he sent more pieces towards the girl. She was young, probably still in her teens, but the force she was throwing back at him was very powerful. The one with the eye beams was the least of his worries, as his blasts kept splintering off his shield. That just left one.

Beast leapt from his hiding place, and found a sheet of metal racing towards him. Deftly in midair he turned, and was only grazed on the first pass. The second sent Beast to the ground hard. He turned his head to see the police had arrived, and they had their guns drawn. He wanted to scream at them to move back, but he couldn't. Instead he could only watch as their guns went off randomly.

Three police fell from fire coming from their fellow police officer's guns. More would have fallen, but Superman launched himself straight into Magneto. The Master of Magnetism was impressed, but this was war. Not intent on being stopped, he pushed the Kryptonite embedded spheres further into Superman's body. He heard the superhero scream in agony, but wouldn't release him. Erik hit him with the previously used I-beam. Superman released him, but was at him again.

If it hadn't been for the alien being on the wrong side, Erik could have appreciated the amount of courage and tenacity of that act. Instead, he used the I-beam to send Superman into the teen girl with telekinetic powers. He heard the young man with eye beams scream, and felt his magnetic shield shake. Apparently, he'd angered the young fool. Then something changed.

Something pushed him away, with the same force as his shield was pushing particles away. He tried to move forward, only for the power to manifest again. He looked around to find another man floating towards him. Magneto could sense the magnetic power flowing around the other man and smiled. A worthy challenger then. He pushed back on his gift and sent the other man flying. However, the other man stopped himself and rocketed forward.

Then the man did something that caught Magneto off guard, he rocketed off into the sky. Erik was confused, normally these hero types liked to keep the fight up. That thought barely had a chance to pass before a large hand wrapped around his neck and Beat grappled with him in the sky. He managed to get beast off, but as he did so, Cyclops was able to get a blast through his shields. Magneto found himself hitting the ground hard and rolling along the asphalt. Meanwhile Marvel Girl, Jean Grey, pressed the advantage by sending not metallic debris to hold him.

Meanwhile the floating man landed next to Superman, who was now looking three steps from death. Dressed in armor, the man wobbled a moment, before regaining his balance. Beside him, a woman came up to steady him. He thanked her before waiving her off, and he reached down to the Man of Steel.

"I apologize, but this is going to hurt," Templar said. "However, you'll feel much better once I'm done."

Xander pulled his gift to him, and along with it, the metal spheres with embedded Kryptonite. He had choses his name to distance himself from the maniac he had just faced. He wanted his life to mean something, and a templar was a holy knight. What better use of his abilities, but to save the champion of this world.

True to what the man said, Superman felt great pain, but then it began to fade. His wounds began to heal and he felt his strength return. The woman with the man took the spheres, now with the metal covering the crystal shards again. Placing the spheres on her arm, they hung there. Superman had man questions, but they could wait. Now that he had his strength back, it was time to end this.

Mara smiled as he lifted off into the air, but nearly lost it when Xander began to fall. She caught him, felt his pulse race. The dangerous magnetized spheres clung to her, and would for several hours. Her unique skeleton held the secret to her durability, one that she shared with another mutant, Wolverine.

"Don't you dare!" she admonished, Xander was fading. "Hold on, we'll get you to a hospital."

Magneto had the heroes back on their heels again, but he was feeling the battle. Then came Superman. He was able to keep Iron Man down, but as the blue blur hit him, all control was lost. The Armored Avenger was back up and after the mutant terrorist. His pulse beam deftly deflected, but just barely.

Magneto stared down defeat, just as someone grabbed him from behind. The chaos was replaced with more chaos as the world disappeared and pandemonium replaced it. Then the world returned again, and Magneto felt his stomach wanting to return its last meal. Still, he maintained his regal demeanor and looked back at who helped him escape.

"My thanks, my dear," he said eloquently. "What do they call you?"

The woman in front of him had crimson red skin, curved black horns, and an angular face. Her orange prison jumpsuit made her skin stand out more, and he noticed that her eyes were hazel in color. She smiled, showing off a beautiful smile, and he wondered how many men had been taken in by her.

"You can call me Demona, and I brought everyone with us," she said. "I believe you went through enough to get us all out of that place."

"Excellent work, my dear, Demona," Magneto rose into the air. "We have a lot of work to do. We best get started."