Superman: Mythos #2 "The Many Suitors of Metropolis"
Every second that went by was like a century. Kara's hand felt as if it were concrete as she dragged it slowly across the paper, painstakingly tracing out every stroke of every letter with her pencil. The words she wrote had been predetermined an hour ago, as soon as she glanced upon the page. She could have completed the entire thing in half a second if she wanted to, but no, Kara was forced to pace her mid-term marketing exam. Lest she raise suspicion among her college classmates, she had to try to ignore her powers and complete the exam within a reasonable time frame. The process was painful, to say the least, and she wondered how the hell her cousin Clark could do it nearly every single day at the Planet.
About two hours into the exam period, Kara's ears perked up when she heard a chair move in the back of the class. Finally, a kid had finished before her. Once he passed in his test, Kara began writing faster. And faster. And faster. Until she slapped her pencil down onto her desk, the tip smoldering from the intense friction. "Done," She said beneath her breath, lifting up the finished exam with a smile. With a proud puff in her chest, she left her desk and walked up to the front of the class to hand in her work to the professor.
The professor smiled meekly and nodded at her, adding her test to his hefty stack of papers. "Have a nice break, Miss Danvers," he said with a sigh, knowing his break would be full of menial grading.
"Same to you, Dr. Johnson!" Kara said, overly cheerful as she turned and ran out the door. She sprinted down the halls and finding the stairwell empty, flew down its many flights to the bottom floor. Soon she burst out of the building and onto the campus quad. "Spring Break! Whoohoo!" She cried aloud, opening her arms towards the simmering yellow sun above, not a cloud in the sky.
"Kara! Kara over here!" A voice called from further up the quad. Kara contained herself and made her way over to her friend Marvin White who was standing beside a familiar-looking red-haired kid. While Kara was in a rush to get back to her dorm and pack, she decided to humor the boys. Both were cute after all, in a major dorky kind of way. Plus the redhead intrigued her, she could have sworn she'd seen him somewhere else before, not just here on campus.
"Hey, Marv! Done with classes? I just got out of my last midterm, it was brutal," Kara said.
"Tell me about it," the redhead butted in, his voice nasally, but full of confidence and swagger that he somehow managed to pull off.
"Sure am! Oh and this is-" Marvin began.
"Name's Wally, Wally West. And the pleasure is all mine," the redhead said with a toothy grin.
"I didn't even… never mind, nice to meet you, Wally. Hey, have we met before?" Kara asked, still trying to pin down where she'd seen that smug freckled face.
"I don't think we have, I just transferred. And trust me, I wouldn't forget a face like yours," Wally said with a wink.
Marvin quickly elbowed Wally's arm and continued, "Say Kara, Wally and I are planning to head up to my lake house this weekend, wanna tag along?"
"Oh Marv I'd love to but-" Kara began, but she was interrupted by an obnoxiously loud ringtone.
"Oop, sorry guys, gotta take this. It's my aunt," Wally said, taking out his phone and stepping aside to answer it. After a brief dialog, he turned back to Kara and Marvin, "Sorry Marv buddy, can we raincheck the lake house? Turns out my um, uncle's friend, um, needs me to cover for him at work… yeah…" Kara and Marvin looked at each other then back to Wally as he fumbled through his excuse. "Well uh, gotta flash!" And with that, he sped away.
Marvin sighed, "Quite the character, ain't he?" He tried to put on a smile for Kara as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I hate to leave you like this Marv, but I'm busy over break too," Kara said, trying to console him. "I'm staying with my cousin in Metropolis, remember?"
"Oh yeah, your internship at the Planet," Marvin said looking down.
"Y-yeah, my internship, exactly," Kara said, only now remembering the specifics of her cover story. "Take care Marv." Kara leaned in and gave the boy a kiss on the cheek before leaving as well.
Kara rushed through campus, skipping as she went, taking in the sweet springtime air. Well, as sweet as midwestern late March could be. Eventually, she made it back to her dorm, where she began to pack her things. Her roommate, Wendy Harris, watched from her bed as Kara frantically stuffed her suitcase full of nearly all her clothes. Wendy slouched down in her bed, putting her phone to the side and letting out a sigh.
"Prob Wendy?" Kara asked while continuing to pack.
"Oh nothing," Wendy said, pausing for a moment. "Well actually, that's just it. Nothing. I'm doing nothing over break, and look at you, bigtime city girl over here."
"Wen, it's really not that big a deal," Kara said, climbing over the top of her crammed suitcase in order to zip it closed. "Say, you like lakes? And houses by any chance?"
"Um, yes?" Wendy said, leaning over the side of her bed, and raising her brow up at Kara.
"You know Marvin right?" Kara asked.
"White? That dork, he's kinda cute I guess…" Wendy pondered.
"Exactly!" Kara said, hopping to her feet with a sealed suitcase at her side. "I'll give you his number, oh, and ask about the lake house."
"Okay…" Wendy said, noticing Kara acting stranger than usual and she was a strange girl to start.
"Anyway girl, I gotta fly," Kara said, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and rolling her suitcase to the door. "Byeee!"
Kara took the back exit of her dorm, emptying out into a quiet courtyard between two buildings. With no one else around, she looked down at her top, it was a cream-colored button-up that went great with her black skirt, and her brunette wig for that matter. She sighed, "Yeah, it's worth it." She brought her hands up to her chest and ripped off her blouse to reveal the proud emblem of the House of El beneath, the symbol of Superman, of Supergirl.
Before long she took to the skies, golden hair and red cape flowing in the wind, dressed in her iconic tight blue top, red skirt, and matching knee-length boots. She held her heavy suitcase at her side with ease, juggling it as she playfully weaved through the clouds. Kara kicked back, crossed her legs, and held her hands behind her head as she just floated along, taking in all those rejuvenating yellow sun rays. Only then did she hear the distant sound of a barking dog. She perked up, it wasn't just any old dog either. Kara eased her way back towards the ground, scanning the horizon until she saw him.
"Krypto?" None other than the Superdog himself was flying towards her at Mach speed, currently about three miles away and closing fast. Kara's boots set down upon a vast stretch of midwestern farmland as the white hound slowed his trail, eventually descending down to a sprint. Kara knelt down, causing Krypto to halt between her arms. "Whoa, whoa boy, what is it?" Kara asked, petting the frazzled Kryptonian pet. Krypto let out several anxious barks before flying up out of Kara's grasp. He barked some more before staunchly aiming his snout Northeast.
"Some trouble in Metropolis aye boy?" Kara asked, flying up beside him. Krypto turned to her with a pout, his black eyes slightly watering. "Some trouble with Clark too huh?" Kara clenched her fist. "Well then, lead the way." With a resolute bark, Krypto lunged forward into the air, breaking the sound barrier seconds later, with Kara not far behind.
The two passed over several states before gleaning the Metropolis skyline on the horizon. With her super-hearing, Kara could tell something was off. She heard a city filled with screams of terror, rampant destruction, and death. Krypto sped forward, Kara struggling to keep up as they began weaving through the buildings, escalating in size as they neared the heart of the city.
Suddenly a red-blue blur whizzed by them and slammed into the side of a building. Both Kara and Krypto halted in their tracks as a cloud of dust from the collision consumed them. When the dust began to settle, Krypto let out a bark when a hand emerged from the rubble. With an angry cry, a young man pulled himself forth from the side of the building and soon joined them in hovering high above street level. Krypto yapped with excitement, flying forth to the boy's side. The boy growled, much like the dog beside him as he brushed the rubble off his leather jacket. And beneath that jacket, he bore the crest.
"Superboy!" Kara cried, swooping in to hold his arm. He shook her off with a grunt but lowered his hand to pet Krypto. "W-what's happening here?" She asked, backing away slightly to give the angst-ridden teen some space.
Superboy ran his fingers through his long greasy fohawk with a sigh before finally acknowledging Kara. "What do you think?" he asked sarcastically. "Superman's gone. And I'm here to pick up the old man's slack."
"Gone?!" Kara exclaimed. "What do you mean gone?"
"Missing, vanished, dead… Take your pick," Superboy said with a grin. "Where've you been? Living under a rock or something?"
"Try midterms…" Kara said, reaching out her hand to lean against the side of the building, feeling shaky in her flight.
"Been about a month now. 'Course the League won't admit it," Superboy continued. "Says he's out on another space mission. Guess all the bad guys in town aren't buying their BS either, hence all the chaos. Point is, I'm here now and it's time this Superboy becomes the new Superman." As he spoke, his eyes were locked on the street corner below. There, from behind one of the buildings, lumbered a hulking purple humanoid beast. Kara knew that disgusting blob anywhere, Parasite. A villain with the power to absorb energy and powers to feed his insatiable hunger. However, Kara had never before seen him so large, he was nearly the size of an elephant at present. He must have been feeding all day long, not just on ordinary life forms, but super ones too.
"Con-" Before Kara could finish, Superboy zoomed forward towards the super-villain. Krypto accompanied Superboy, his current owner, despite his recklessness. Kara sighed, having no choice but to follow the duo into combat.
Superboy let out a battle cry as he collided fists-first into the bloated gut of the creature. Parasite roared in pain, the impact sending him careening up the street. He then planted his heavy stump-like feet into the concrete, eventually easing his momentum to a halt. His jagged teeth and gaping mouth-hole managed to smile, his body producing an inhuman reverberation that must have correlated to laughter. "...Heh heh heh…Must be my lucky day… a Kryptonian buffet. I think I'll save the dog for dessert…" Parasite spoke, his voice just as sick and twisted as his appearance, while he began moving forward. His lumbering walk soon transitioned to a barreling sprint upon all fours.
"How's about a knuckle sandwich dirtbag!" Superboy said, clapping his fist into his palm before rearing back.
"Conner!" Kara yelled, getting his attention. "Why don't we make it a two-for-one?" She grinned, holding up her own fist. Krypto barked in agreement, preparing for a headbutt. Superboy hesitated, but then firmly nodded. All three then watched as Parasite approached, now in a full-on gallop that shook the street.
"Now!" Kara cried, launching forward towards the beast. Superboy followed, and Krypto too. Together in unison, they nailed Parasite in the chin, sending him spiraling backward. His massive purple body did dozens of spins before crashing upside down through a bus stop.
"Let's finish him off!" Superboy growled, lifting a taxi up over his head. Kara nodded and the two flew up the street towards the fallen Parasite, hoping to knock him out before he regained, or stole any more strength.
Then, both Superboy and Supergirl stopped in their tracks when they saw a sudden orange laser beam blast down onto Parasite from above. They looked up to see a shimmering gold-skinned figure, clad in white with a flowing yellow cape, descending down through the air. The orange lasers were sent forth from his eyes and when he ceased their stream, a perfect smile shone on his golden face with his matching mohawk flowing in the wind. "Never fear Earthlings, for Protex, your savior, has arrived!" He announced to both Kara, Superboy, and the cowering bystanders.
"Ghah! You idiot!" Superboy shouted up at the golden being. "It consumes all forms of raw energy!" He was right, Protex's heat vision blast merely seeped into Parasite's purple skin and as a result, his body began to bubble into rapid growth. Superboy roared in anger, throwing his taxi to the side and rocketing towards Parasite. He swooped in from below, giving him a powerful uppercut, sending the massive creature upwards. Though soon his heavy body began to crash back towards the ground, so Superboy flew up and met Parasite with his fists. He pushed him further into the sky, screaming in anger as he flew, likely straining under the enormous weight.
Kara watched as Superboy carried Parasite higher and higher, away from the city, so he would not cause any more damage. Krypto was quick to follow, lending his support to his owner where he could. Kara's glare then fell upon Protex, their so-called savior. Utterly remorseless, the being merely shrugged and flew away, back into the sky above Metropolis. It was then, looking up when Kara realized the sky was filled with dozens of super-men like Protex. All of them, whizzing around, engaging in combat with Superman's rogues across the entire city. No regard for the destruction they brought about doing so. Without Clark, the prodigious seat of Metropolis' hero was vacant, just like Superboy, they wanted the title. They wanted to be the next Superman.
"Oh Rao…" Kara said beneath her breath, the severity of the situation set in. "Where's the Justice League when you need them?"
"Ahem," A voice called out from behind her. "Somebody call for, the League?"
Kara's heart filled with relief, but when she turned, that relief puttered out into mild disappointment. Standing there in his gaudy yellow-red suit and exposed ginger hair, was none other than Kid Flash, who'd zipped in at super-speed from who knows where. He had a toothy smile across his face and a quick wink for Kara when she locked eyes with him. Kara floated down to the street and folded her arms at the arrogant speedster, she was far from impressed.
"Just wait for it, sugar," he said, tapping his foot and checking his watch. Soon enough, from the sky above descended the big red cheese himself, Captain Marvel. The bulky man had a boyish grin across his face, so wide it made his eyes squint. He landed next to Kid Flash, standing nearly twice his size, dressed in shining gold and red, the thunderbolt of Shazam displayed proudly across his chest.
Next to the captain, a smoldering green fireball splashed onto the street from above. When the emerald flames dissipated, a tall green-haired, tan-skinned woman stood in its wake, dressed in a matching green crop top and pants. Beside her, a rush of icy wind brought with it another super-heroine. She was a shorter woman with platinum hair and a pale complexion, and she dressed in a skin-tight, blue and white suit. Together the two made Fire and Ice, the marginally less dynamic duo. As a matter of fact, the whole line of heroes, Kid Flash, Captain Marvel, Fire and Ice, left something to be desired considering the situation.
"Ta-da!" Kid Flash announced, arms open wide, once they had all assembled.
"No offense guys, but doesn't this situation kinda call for the A-team?" Kara asked, trying not to sound too ungrateful.
"Hey! Believe it or not, without Supes, more than just Metropolis feels it. Flash has been working extra in not just Central City, but the whole midwest!" Kid Flash rebutted. "Besides, all four of us combined, we're practically him! Cap's got the flight and strength, Fire's got the heat vision, Ice has the breath, and I've got the speed," he said proudly while zipping around to each of the team members.
"Missing a few, but it will have to do," Kara said, slowly beginning to hover back into the air. "You four try to get the situation on the streets under control. That means taking down the bad guys and getting the super-wannabes to stand down. If anything they're the greater threat."
"We're on it, ma'am!" Captain Marvel said with a dopey salute. "B-but where will you be?"
"Yeah, could really use a Kryptonian out here that isn't…ya know," Kid Flash added, pointing to the sky, where Superboy had left with Parasite moments prior.
Kara looked up with distress. She sighed, then looked back down at the team. "I already have a mission. I've got to find my cousin, I've got to find Superman. And I know just who to start with."
After the brief exchange with her discount Justice League, Kara took to the skies of Metropolis once more. She didn't have to travel far, soon enough she came upon the tallest building in the city: LexCorp Tower. A megastructure that pierced the very clouds and whose slanted glass facade was in the shape of an L, because of course it was. She flew in close to its glass exterior, rising until she came to the top floor. She folded her arms and slowly appeared before Lex Luthor's office window. When she came close enough to peer within, her jaw dropped. Inside, she saw the back of Lex's shining bald head as he sat at his desk, no surprise there, but across from him, seemingly working with the genius super-villain, was none other than star reporter Lois Lane of the Daily Planet.