Avenging Justice 2:

Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday

Part XLIII

Earth, Delaware, Metropolis

"You're going to have to go through us!" Seth exclaimed as he brought a light infused fist down upon the creature.

He followed it up with an upward knee strike, and then used Doomsday as a springboard to blast away. Meanwhile, Lara came in behind and used her power to hit the monster square in the back of the knee. Doomsday turned to grab at her, only for Seth to throw a golden beam of light into its chest, and a small portion of bony protrusion fell off. The creature snarled and then came after him.

Using the beast's momentum against it, Seth rolled with Doomsday's attack and sent it to the ground hard. Normally that would be enough, knock the air out of the opponent, but this was no ordinary opponent. Just as quickly, Doomsday sent a fist up and Seth felt his head violently rock back. He didn't register pain, it was too quick, but luckily for him, Lara was there to pull him away using her power.

However, that meant Doomsday's targets were now together, and easier to smash. It leapt up, and this time it was Thor that drew its attention. Mjolnir smashed into Doomsday, and the creature grabbed it, as its trajectory changed. Meaning to use the hammer against its owner, the monster was surprised as it and the hammer fell straight to the ground. It howled, as it tried to pull its arm up, which still tightly held onto Mjolnir.

"I'll try to hold it off, see what you can do to help Superman," Thor said to Seth and Lara. "This will be a battle worthy of song!"

He leapt onto Doomsday, who had managed to get feet under it, but still couldn't lift the hammer. Letting go, he used all his strength to batter the monster, and for the briefest of moments, there was hope. Then the creature let go, grabbed him and proceeded to rain punches into the Asgardian.

"What do you need?" Seth asked Superman, as he cradled the limp body of his cousin.

Superman looked up, pain being pushed aside, "She's still too weak, we need to get her up closer to the sun, it'll help with the healing."

Lara motioned for him to hand the limp Supergirl to her, "Then let's get you both up there."

"Thor's buying us some time," Seth continued. "If he can't end this thing, we're going to need you."

Superman wanted to debate, but he heard wise words, the same thing the others would tell him. Above, he heard the distinct sound of the Daily Planet's helicopter. She was up there, Lois was reporting on this. He didn't even need the chopper there to tell him that, it was just who she was. She was a reporter, one who ferreted out the truth, no matter the danger to her. It was one of the reason's he loved her, and why he would trade everything to keep her safe.

"Let's do this," he said solemnly.

Three figures blasted off into the atmosphere, while Thor was punched through a building. This time, the structural integrity kept and the building remained upright. The denizens of the building though were screaming, as their previously enclosed rooms, were now open to the elements and the outside.

Thor go up, blood flowing freely from his mouth, and one eye completely turned red. He held out his hand and called out his hammer, which came right to him. Without thought, without any plan, he rushed the monster, battle cry on his lips and righteousness in his swing. He connected, again and again, each time pushing Doomsday back a bit. On the last hit, the creature grabbed his arm with both hands and snapped his arm.

Thor fell screaming as his arm now hung at an awful ninety degrees from the rest of itself. The monster let go, and then brought a massive foot down on his chest. Something inside snapped, and he wasn't sure if a rib broke. The pain that followed was enough to almost send him into oblivion. He held off, only to see the creature come at him again. A gentle touch, and then the creature's foot passed through him. Thor looked up as Vision pulled him away from the battle, before making him solid again.

"Rest here, Mighty Thor," Vision said. "You have done as much as you can do, now it is my turn."

Vision sent out blasts at Doomsday, making the creature angry, but not seeming to harm it. He kept his distance, learning from what happened with Wonder Woman, Hulk and Thor. They had gotten too close, but all he had to do was tire the creature out, it had to feel fatigue soon. It had been fighting for quite some time now, even the other Avengers were feeling the day's events.

"I'm…going…calling…Veron.." Tony was coughing as he gasped for breath, over the comms.

Black Widow's voice came next, "Not right now you aren't, you and Steve aren't ready for any more fighting. Vision are you good?"

"I am fine, Agent Romanov," Vision said as he sent another blast to irritate the creature. "I'm not see any fatigue on this creature though. Does S.H.I.E.L.D. have any further information on this thing?"

Nick Fury answered, "No, this one came out of nowhere. It's definitely a heavy hitter, I'd suggest caution and getting it away from Metropolis if you can."

"Maps indicate there is some empty land outside of the city," Vision explained. "I'm attempting to tempt the creature to follow me now. I'll update you…"

Before Vision could finish, the creature came at him. He dodged, but nearly didn't keep from getting hit by the steel beam the monster pulled behind it. He went out of phase, and the beam harmlessly went through him. He rephased back to solid and then turned to face Doomsday, only for the creature to be waiting on him. Wrapping around him, the monster began smashing its forehead into his, and hitting the gem in the center of his head.

With each hit, Vision found it hard to think, concentrate, and thus he couldn't phase out of the grapple. Just as quickly the monster yanked his two arms away from his body. Vision tried to phase again, or blast the creature. However, the creature slammed into his gem, and Vision felt himself almost disappear.

As his consciousness came back to the present though, he felt something else, unbearable pain. His arms felt like they were being ripped out of their sockets. He screamed in agony, as the monster menacingly growled. Pops that sounded like metal cables on a bridge breaking, resounded off the nearby buildings. By pure chance, Vision was able to focus for just a moment, and phased out of the monster's grip. Overwhelmed with pain, he rephased, but the creature had followed his flight.

"It's time to end this!" was the last thing Vision heard, before darkness took over, and dreams of savage monsters invaded.

High above Earth, Superman bathed in the light of the sun. Beside him, the two other that had come with Supergirl, did as well. Strength returned to him, he felt his power level surge. Unlike a batter though, there wasn't a "full battery" alert that came up, but instead, he felt his strength return. He just hoped it was enough to stop the monster down there.

Below he could see the brave Asgardian fall, and then the odd man in red, green and yellow nearly be dismembered. There wasn't any more time for him to stay up here, he had to get back into the fight. Even as he looked over, and saw his cousin coming around, he knew there wasn't enough time for any parting words.

Instead, he looked at the woman holding Supergirl, "Keep her safe."

"I'm coming with you," Seth said.

Superman could hear the tremor in the man's voice. He was scared, but willing to go back and help. This was the side of Humanity that he fought for, that he wished they could see in themselves. Not the hatred and fear of Lex Luthor or those terrorist of HYDRA, even the prejudice of the Friends of Humanity, those were outliers, exceptions, not the rule.

"If you're going, I'm going," Lara said. "And don't think you can talk me out of it."

Superman looked at her, "I need you to keep her safe."

"I'll get her to safety, but I'm not letting you two go after that thing alone," Lara said. "This goofball will get himself killed if he isn't careful."

Superman began to argue when Seth cut him off, "Look we don't have time to debate this. There are people down there that are getting hurt, let's stop that thing."

"Okay," Superman said, giving them a gentle smile. "Let's go."

Two rocketed back to Earth, Superman outpacing Seth, but just. Lara found one of the Avengers, Captain America, and had him take over watching Supergirl. Then she rocketed back towards where the conflict was going to end. Only for the briefest moment did she even pause to look at the utter devastation that had come to Metropolis, the beast had earned its name well.

"It's time to end this!" yelled out Superman, and then he plunged straight at Doomsday.

The creature howled, took the hit and responded with a nasty punch that sent the Man of Steel flying. It didn't have time to catch a break, as Seth sent a sharp elbow into its neck. Then he followed it up with a light infused roundhouse straight to the monster's face. It groaned, before kicking him hard in the abdomen. He brought his knee up into where the creature's ribs should be. For his trouble, he was slammed into the ground.

Lara came from the side and kicked with all her might at the leg of the thing, and was rewarded with a grunt. Then came the bony fist to swat her away. She dodged it, only for a massive front kick to send her to the ground. She looked up, smiled at the creature and flipped it an obscene sign.

Doomsday didn't recognize the symbol, but the crest on the chest of the man who came after it next, it did. The house of El symbol was in its face, but only briefly, as an upper cut sent the creature flipping backwards. It came up, just in time for a falling dropkick to keep it on one knee. It slammed a fist into Seth, only for Lara to send a shadowy blast into it, and a second into the small of its back.

Twisting around, the creature grabbed at her, only to be stopped as Superman pulled it up and sent punch after punch into it. He started with the face, moved to the body, and even as his hand became bloody, continued. Doomsday grabbed him, and then slammed him into the ground, prepared to pound his now prone foe. Instead, a blast of light and shadow hit, sending the monster back, and howling.

Lara and Seth moved in sync, him using his martial arts skills, and her using her own intuitive strikes. Together, they moved the creature back. It howled, grabbed at both, but came up with nothing as Superman was back up, and smashing into it at full force. It threw him off, but was instantly assaulted by the other two.

The three locked in a battle to the end, each kept up their assaults, but unlike Doomsday, they were tiring. Soon mistakes were made, and the monster found opportunities and holes in their defenses. Damage was dealt, and soon none of the three looked to be in their prime condition. It was hear that it was going to end, the world would question about the cost for years to come.

Seth felt the building crumble over him. Instinctively he put his body over Lara's. She was still lying there motionless, only a soft moan let out that she just injured. Thanks to the beating the creature had given them both, he was having trouble focusing, but as the debris piled on top of them, he at least didn't feel any worse. Punching up, he sent the debris around them flying, and he hoped that there wasn't anyone in the way.

Meanwhile Superman was wobbly on his feet, the monster had taken all he had and more. However, for the first time that day, the creature looked near the end as well. All he had to do was hold on for a little bit longer, and they would all be saved. He had to do this, he was the only one that really could.

The other two had done their best, and given it their all. He smiled, knowing that they would make great heroes. This was always going to end with him though, even with the Justice League and the Avengers, it was always was going to be him. So, he didn't even flinch, put the rest of his power into what came next, as he rushed towards Doomsday.

The blow rebounded off the whole of Metropolis. Those few windows not shattered during the fight, immediately did. Both fighters struck at the same time, and both fell to the ground in heaps. Doomsday's chest didn't rise or fall, and its face showed an open, slack jaw, with no life to it. Meanwhile the Man of Steel gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling slowly.

In the distance, a helicopter landed and a booted Lois Lane ran towards him. Clark smiled, Lois was here. He looked on her, looking lovingly into her fearful eyes. She was beautiful, but it wasn't just physical. She was smart, persistent and had a sense of what was right and wrong. Willing to put it all on the line to get the truth out, or to bring to light the wrongs that the powerful would wish hidden, she was magnificent.

"Are they safe?" he asked weakly. Even to his own ears, his voice sounded far away.

Between her barely held back tears, "You did it, you saved everyone."

"I had help," he managed.

As if on cue, Seth and Lara stumbled over. They were both leaning on each other. The sun blasting down upon them started to fill them with strength again, but that wasn't what they needed. There before them, lay the Earth's champion, slowly dying. They could hear the irregular beat of his heart, and his color was draining. Seth fell to the ground, fatigue and depression battling for the reason why.

In this darkest hour, a voice came to Seth and Lara, "I am Kelex, you must hurry if you wish to save Master El."

"Who, what?" Seth asks.

The voice came again, with the same robotic inflection, "There isn't much time, but you need to bring the one you call, 'Superman,' here. If you do, we might be able to save him."

"How?" Lara asks.

Kelex responded, "I'll send a signal only you can see and hear, follow it. Hurry."

Immediately, both of them could hear a beacon, one that was like a siren's call to them. Looking to the north, they saw a beam of light shooting up into the atmosphere. There was still hope, if this Kelex was to be believed. They had to try, Superman deserved the same chance he had just given everyone else.

"We need to take him, there is a friend who says they can help him," Seth gently said to Lois Lane.

She looked up at him, a million questions running through her mind. Also was the thought that they might be able to save him. She needed Clark, the world needed Superman. Without them, the world would be a darker, colder place. She though, wasn't sure of leaving his fate in the hands of people she'd never met. However, there was something in the man's eyes. He looked like he needed to save Superman as much as she did.

"If you can save him, hurry," she said. "Take him."

Seth gently took Superman from her, and flew off towards the beacon. Lara followed him, both feeling more tired than either would like to admit. Lois looked on, watching as they disappeared. Her heart battling her mind on whether this was a good or bad decision, or a decision at all. Instead of a warm embrace and promise that all would be well, she was left with a chill running through her.