Avenging Justice 2:

Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday

Part XLIV

Earth, The Entire World

Across the globe, one single tagline hangs in the air, as the people hold their breaths. "Superman Dead? Is the Man of Steel gone?" The news moved at the speed of light, taken on wavelengths from satellites, and back again. Translated into all the languages of the world, and transmitted electronically and physically. With it came a wave of sorrow.

Meanwhile images of the physically battered heroes followed. A shot of Wonder Woman having to lean on a building, but refusing to fall over. Another of Green Lantern resting with his head in his hands, while Star Sapphire put an arm around him. The Fantastic Four were attempting to get to people trapped in the rubble. Flash was found wandering, while the X-Men gave what help they could give.

Despite their hesitancy, rescue workers came to rely on Wolverine's scent tracking, and several people that would have died, were saved. Beast led another group, using a complex computer algorithm, updated to rely on his physical senses. Rogue, was tossing rubble aside, holding back tears. She looked absolutely exhausted, but wouldn't stop. Jean Grey and Cyclops worked in tandem to remove rubble or destroy it. That left Captain Marvel, still feeling weak, to aid in any which way the rescuers needed her.

Just feet away, a reporter talked to a camera, "We coming to you live from the Epicenter of the Doomsday event. The following images are quite graphic and we advise viewer discretion is advised.

Just moments ago Superman engaged a creature that seemed nigh unstoppable. In their ensuing battle, which crossed several states, millions of damages have been sustained. Multiple lives have been lost, with the death toll still being calculated. The combined forces of the Justice League and the Avengers failed to stop the monster. It all came down to him.

At his time, witnesses tell us that Superman was taken by another hero, but they aren't sure where. There hasn't been any word about his status since then. Shortly afterwards, Supergirl followed. Meanwhile both sets of heroes are assisting in rescue efforts, but it could be months before all the victims are found. Only time will tell how this is going to change the world."

In New York City, Spider-Man watched this news report, immediately feeling numb at the news. Before he realized it, he was swinging away. Below, the denizens of New York were glued to their phones. None saw him overhead, for the first time since heroes had arrived, their eyes weren't set to the sky.

Peter found himself outside a window, and his foggy brain realized where he had gone. Her apartment, Mary Jane's, he had gone to her. He started to swing away, she didn't need him interrupting, she had enough going on. Yet, he couldn't make himself move. All he could feel was cold, alone, and most of all loss. Hope itself has seemed to disappeared.

"You going to sit out there all night, Tiger?" Mary Jane said, leaning out of her window. "Come on in here."

He complied, and he heard her pull down the blinds. The outside world was blocked, leaving only the world of her apartment for him. He could smell her perfume, could smell the slowly burning food on the stove. Peter went over and turned off the heat, and moved the pan without thinking. Next, he collapsed on her couch, followed by his mask being removed.

Red, watery eyes greeted Mary Jane as she returned. She went to him, and held him tight. He wouldn't ask for it, always seemingly trying to pay for a sin, and this was his penance. To her, any sin he had committed, shy of some horrible things, was repaid a thousand times over. His whole life was struggle, using his great power for a greater responsibility. Which left many things to be sacrificed, sometimes even his relationship with her. Now wasn't the time to bring all that up. He needed a safe haven, and she could give him that. She really did care for the poor guy, self-flagellation and all.

In Gotham City, a very exhausted Batman saw the newsfeed on the screen inside the Batmobile. He looked up from the screen, a feeling of dread coming over him. He commed the Justice League Watchtower, and waited patiently for the Martian Manhunter to pick up. The whole time behind the stony face, the guilt rose again.

If he hadn't had to deal with the Arkham break out, he might have been able to help. Instead, a good friend had fallen. He wasn't ready to believe Clark was dead. Strangely, a small glimmer of hope held out in his heart, because Clark was Clark, and he didn't want to imagine a world without him. Not that he hadn't prepared plans for that, but he wasn't ready to institute those just yet.

"Manhunter," Batman said. "I want you to send me all the data on this thing. We need to get ready in case there are more."

Martian Manhunter's response was very tired, "Help us if there are more, we're down and beaten."

"Not dead, he's not dead and neither are we," Batman said. "If you can get samples, I'd like to study them. I'm sure STAR Labs is taking some. Work with S.H.I.E.L.D., but don't let them block you out."

Manhunter's voice turned curious, "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Just playing the odds, Batman out," he cut the communication, just in time for a police report on the Joker. It was time to end this, for there were bigger things coming. He could feel it.

Up in the Watchtower, Martian Manhunter called out, "Batman…Batman, somethings never change." He sent a communication message to STAR Labs, "I need to speak with Dr. Stone."

In Metropolis, an enraged Lex Luthor tossed a paperweight straight into his television screen. His guard and assistant, Mercy Graves, took a step back. She'd seen him angry, but this was a whole other level of rage. No loss to Superman had ever enraged Lex like this, and frankly she was scared of the state he was in.

"A soccer hooligan!" Lex shouted. "All our battles, and he let a soccer hooligan from outer space take him out?!" He slammed his hands on the very expensive, very antique desk. "You were mine to kill, alien! Mine! How dare you die to anyone else?!"

Taking a deep breath, he focused himself, and then went over the message in front of him. It was a quickly made statement, one that he was about to read off to the journalists of the world. In it, he would sing the praises of Superman, despite their differences. He wanted to be making another speech, but sadly this was what fate had dealt him. If only he'd been able to beat the alien, and show the world what he really was. Instead, now he would have to sing his praises, for a while.

Earth, Fortress of Solitude

Kelex met the nearly falling over Seth, with several other El Bots taking Kal-El's body from him. Behind Seth was Lara, she guided him to a place out of the way, to sit down. Behind them, artificial eyes watched them, investigating, and becoming angry. It couldn't do anything, as Kelex came back, and led the two people to a resting chamber, before coming back into the main room.

"They are abominations! Created by defiling the Kryptonian DNA," a very angry voice said.

Kelex spoke back to the presence while monitoring the procedures meant to save Kal-El's life, "You were only released because you said you could help the son of Jor-El. Those other two aren't any of your business."

"You misunderstand, I'm angry that these lesser beings have defiled the Kryptonian DNA with that of lesser beings," the voice shot back. "They have merged DNA fragments from El, Zod and Hu-Ul to create this chimera."

"Once more, this is beyond the scope of your limited release," Kelex said. "When Master El wakes, and is fully healed, you can make an argument to him then."

The voice scoffed, "You know as well as I do, that he loves this world and will be very forgiving at the grave crimes they just committed with these atrocious abominations. He should have let me remake this world in a new Krypton."

Kelex turned finally, "That, Eradicator, is exactly why he had you stopped and to remain here. Now, we must get to work."

The voice of the Eradicator sighed, "I'm already integrated in, the resuscitation process has started. Now, we just need to give him an advantage. Last Son of Krypton subroutines engaged."

Supergirl landed hard, slamming down onto her knees. She fought back from the darkness, she needed to find Kal. One of the robots, her mind gave her the name, Kelex, came over to her. It's cold metal hands, helped her maintain balance and directed her to the medical bay. She saw a huge pod, an incubation pod, one that looked like it was a modified incubation pod. She was laid onto a nearby bed, with a buzzing field snaping to life around her. Kelex began going over the information it was providing.

"Kal.." Supergirl tried to say. "Is he."

Kelex's voice didn't change, "Not your concern. You've taken serious injuries, but nothing life threatening. Rest up and know that he is in good hands. Also, when you can, you need to get to this system's solar rays, they'll help in your healing process."

"What about the other two?" she managed to get out.

Kelex's robotic face turned to her from the readings, "They are resting. They should be good to go in the morning, but are in no condition to return just yet. Just like you, they've been through a lot."

"I failed and he died," Kara Zor-El melted into the bad, wanting nothing more than disappear out of existence forever.

Kelex shook its head, "No, because of you and others, there is still a chance. You did all that you could, and for that your parents would be most proud."

"It wasn't enough. Why didn't I get here in time?" She whispered.

Kelex answered, "Master El is always telling me not to be so literal. I believe from this query, you ask why fate unwinds the way it does. One could ask the same about the destruction of Krypton, or that the theft of Argo City by Braniac was allowed to proceed.

The answer is beyond my programming to quantify, but the answer is the same. In a world where anything can and will happen, things called, 'bad,' will happen, as will things called, 'good.' There are things that to one will appear as 'bad,' but to another is a 'good' thing. Philosophy, I fear, is for the living and mortal among you. However, I do know that after watching Master El over the years, I have come to the assumption that he wouldn't have changed anything."

Looking at no one really, Kara said, "He was my family, the last one." Before Kelex could respond, she was unconscious.

The robotic servant checked on her one last time before going back to Kal-El, "He's not gone yet. You both are stronger than any could have predicted. Your parents would say, 'fight.' So, my two charges, do so with all your might."

Kelex kept two of the drones watching, while it checked on the other two guests. They were resting, the remains of their tatter garbed removed. Behind them, the machines of a dead world came to life. Elements collected from across time and space gathered for what was to be created. Eradicator was right, in their DNA ran strands of multiple species, but it was the strands of Kryptonian DNA that interested Kelex. It would just have to make do with the samples taken later, the recovery of Master El took priority.