Unfortunately it was the end of the school year and as Xander and Harry frequently pointed out; the biggest disasters and evil jerks arrive round about then.
Everything from The Harvest to Harry being tortured in the graveyard, they all happened at the end of the school year.
Graduation was cancelled and the town was woken from it's slumber at four in the morning by tornado sirens going off and people being shuffled through the portal door in the castle and straight to Japan and the many hotels owned by MBI.
Whilst the entire town of Smallville marched through the castle the residents were meeting with the world's heroes in the Great Hall.
"An hour ago the Odin observed a large spacecraft entering our solar system just beyond Jupiter." Virgil announced. The Odin was one of the Amaterasu class ships along with the Zeus. Virgil was one of the senior members of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA. He liaised with the castle on matters of importance or safety for the planet. He was also responsible for requesting the help of Superman or the Green Lanterns when necessary.
"The ship is not the only issue. In it's wake it brought a meteor field."
"Any sign it is accidental?" Tess asked.
"A ship of that tech level and size does not accidentally drag meteors with it." Scott frowned as he examined the video, photos and sensor readings taken by the various satellites left around the system and various planets by the Amaterasu. "The field is concealing something."
"Estimated point of impact?" John Stewart asked. Hal and Sinestro were busy elsewhere and John was the Lantern on call.
"Smallville." Virgil answered stiffly.
"All those who think it's a coincidence… ?" Xander asked as he raised his hand.
Everyone just sat there.
"That's what I thought." He said as he put his hand down.
"Anybody been able to identify the origin?" Logan asked.
"No. It doesn't match any known species." Laura answered as she checked the database from her console.
"Have we tried making contact?" Clark asked.
"On everything from radio's to Lantern rings." Virgil nodded. "Kilowog is advising and assisting at JAXA right now."
"Are they in range for a telepathic scan?" Lorna asked, turning to Jean.
"No, and they won't be until they reach the moon." She answered.
"Remind me to work on a Cerebro unit for the space ships." Harry muttered.
"I can think of one simple approach." Clark said cautiously. "But I could use some backup."
"Is this going to be something on a Harry scale of stupid?" Chloe asked sceptically.
"At it's basic concept… yes. But it will mean we might be able to deal the threat out there and not on Earth." Clark said uncomfortably.
"Go on, what's your plan?" Neville asked curiously.
"I could… go up and knock on their door." Clark squirmed in his seat. It sounded so ridiculous.
"Ha! I love it!"
Unless you were Xander Harris.
"Clark… the only reason it sounded Harry-esque is because of how you worded it." Emma sighed. "You should have said: 'I could go up and try to make contact in person.'"
Clark scowled at Harry who was grinning madly. "This is all your fault."
"I prefer Supe's version best." Barry grinned. "Much easier for us lowly civil servants to understand."
"What backup did you intend?" Bruce asked.
Barry much preferred it when Bruce Wayne wasn't in his costume. He hated that gravelly voice.
"Either Emma, Jean or the Cuckoos for telepathic reconnaissance, Xander for hand to hand and general thinking outside the box and Laura for additional hand to hand and technical assistance."
"Take both Emma and Jean." Neville instructed. "There will still be three Phoenixes on Earth and the Cuckoos and Ryan can handle telepathy."
"What about us Amazons?" Kyla asked.
"You need to stay on Earth." Clark shook his head. "If the planet catches wind of this thing heading for Earth then we will see rioting again."
"We'll also need to be on alert for the anti-alien groups again." Loki scowled. "This will be something to use as a platform to rally people to their cause."
"We can deal with that later." Harry said firmly. "We have our plan, Clark, do what you need to, we'll secure the planet."
The team of five teleported to Mars just as the ship and meteors where passing by.
Each team member was dressed in their uniform. For Superman his customary jeans, t-shirt and cape. For Emma that meant… practically nothing.
They were all equipped with the standard Avengers Communication set that allowed for communication in everything from a vacuum to high intensity lightning storms. Which was useful considering Superman's abilities.
Everyone but Superman was invisible as they wanted to make contact before resorting to fighting.
The alien vessel had a rounded base that was clearly the engine, mechanical tentacles that looked like rows of beads extended far out of the base, moving around and clearly searching. The top of the ship had an array of what appeared to be sensor antennae.
The ship was around the size of the small White Martian ships.
The tentacles seemed to know Superman was there and instantly tried to grab him.
"Trojan Horse." Superman instructed his team. "Follow me in."
Superman let one of the tentacles grab him and was instantly shocked with some form of energy that knocked him out.
Unfortunately the tentacles moved faster than they could fly as they dragged Superman to a hexagonal airlock. The doors closed behind the Man of Steel whilst they were still several metres away.
"I'll try phasing through." Laura said.
"Xander, any ideas?" Jean asked. "Xander?" She repeated as she received no response and they were all still invisible. "Emma?"
"Here."
"Laura?"
"Still here, I couldn't get through, I also tried to teleport but couldn't." Laura reported.
"Then where is Xander?"
"It is possible he managed to get in before the doors closed." Emma postulated. "Jean, can you flame in?"
There was a pause. "No, whatever shields they have up, they are fairly comprehensive."
"Then we have to wait." Laura sighed. "We might as well use the time to examine the ship from outside. Jean can you get back to Earth and report in?"
"I'll be-"
"There! The meteor field, it's accelerating." Emma interrupted.
"It's too far out for it to be the Earth's pull." Jean frowned.
"Then you report this too." Emma said pointedly.
Back on Earth things were beginning to go to pot.
Lex was on the phone with some idiot with an electronic voice. He had been receiving calls for the past few months but they made no sense. Something about preparing their world for preservation. He had ordered the technical department to track it down and redirect the calls but the caller still got through.
The major problem was that nearly every form of robot in the city of Metropolis had been taken over by a foreign intelligence with the same voice. Everything from automated car assembly robots to the latest in android developments. They had begun building other robots out of parts and they were all searching for one thing…
The Kryptonian.
They had started by claiming they were going to preserve significant artefacts before they destroyed the planet. Now they were hell bent on finding the Kryptonian.
"Who are you? Are you the one controlling these… 'Terminauts'?" Lex demanded down the phone at the mystery caller. 'Terminaut' was the name the robots had given themselves.
"YOU WERE TO HAVE THE KRYPTONIAN PREPARED. WE WOULD ENSURE YOUR SURVIVAL." The mechanical voice sounded.
"Oh damn it." Lex muttered as he realised this was probably something the clone had done. He picked up the phone on his desk and activated the announcement system for LuthorCorp Towers. "This is Lex Luthor. Effective immediately you are to exit the building. Please enter the waiting buses that will take you out of the city. We are about to be at the centre of an Alien attack. This is not a drill." He slammed the phone down angrily.
"Alien invasion?" Tess asked tiredly.
"Well, it's only fair. I did miss the last one after all." Lex joked. "I think that blasted clone was in communication with whatever Clark is dealing with up there. He offered Clark in exchange for his own survival."
"Do you think General Lane knows?"
"That is where we will be heading now." Lex said as he put on his jacket and they headed for the door.
In Smallville the town was now completely deserted. The only people present were the Sekirei who would be dealing with whatever landed with the meteor shower.
Matsu had calculated the centre of the area where the meteors would strike and there were now a full 107 Sekirei present and accounted for in the fields of the Kent Farm.
Pamela accompanied Kusano in her guise as the May Queen's Handmaiden and Alec in his Swamp thing persona. It wasn't possible for Harry to put Alec into a new body as his soul was too much a part of the planet, or The Green as he called it. But he had worked hard with Emma and Kusano to control his plant form so that he actually looked like his old self. Even his skin colour was normal… there are lot's of different coloured flowers after all.
The Swamp Thing currently looked nothing like the lurking monster of the Louisiana Bayou. He looked like a real knight of old, but his armour was made of the strongest wood. Nothing was getting past him to his charge, the May Queen.
Kusano's job was to listen to the plants and to tell the others if something other than a rock landed. She thought that was a pretty boring job but she had been taught that everyone had their place in a battle.
Due to the varied powers of the Sekirei, they weren't going to be focusing on using them. Instead they had brought in the anti-grav mines that disposed of the White Martian invaders. What they missed with those the Sekirei with the more destructive powers would try to pulverise into smaller pieces before they hit the ground.
Even now they could see the first streaks in the clear blue skies as the initial fragments burnt up in the atmosphere.
"What idiot decided that plugging a man into a machine like this and not having a kill switch was a good idea?" Dani demanded as she dodged another blast from the man in the huge battle suit by diving behind a jeep.
"That would be this idiot." Came a deep voice as another armoured man landed next to him. "And I am the kill switch." With that the large and imposing African-American in a suit of armour blasted away from Dani and Wolverine and into the other armoured man.
"Huh… do you think he calls himself 'War Machine'?" Wolverine wondered as he lit a cigar.
"What are you two doing here?" Lex asked as he appeared with Tess. "Where's General Lane?"
"We were dealing with the… white guy in the armour. The black guy is sorting it out for now and I prefer to stay here and not be smooshed." Dani said fervently.
"And the General?" Lex prompted.
"On the floor behind you." Wolverine shrugged.
Tess and Lex turned to see the General handcuffed to the bumper of the jeep they were hiding behind.
"Why?" Lex asked pleadingly as he turned to Dani.
"Because he was a prime target for the old Tin Man back there and he was planning on going toe-to-toe with it." Wolverine glared at the General who was clearly sulking.
"I could have talked him down!" Sam argued.
"He was not in the mood to listen." Dani countered. "Who is that jerk anyway? He seems to have a hard on for Clark."
"Clark?" Tess said disbelievingly.
"That is Major John Corben. One of my aides. He and Lois grew up and were good friends. I always knew that John had a thing for Lois but I thought he respected the fact that she wasn't interested.
"He is also against the current political situation. Earlier today he forged my signature on documents that allowed him to activate the Steel Soldier program. The Steel Soldier being what John is wearing now."
"Who's the other guy?" Tess queried.
"Dr. John Henry Irons. The creator of the Steel Soldier."
"He is a Steel Driving man." Dani mused appreciatively as he watched the man swing his hammer.
"Not now Dani." Tess sighed.
"You're just jealous because I got there first." Dani sneered childishly.
"Can we focus please?" Lex begged. "Are we saying that this Corben is going to head for the White House if he defeats us here?"
"At best guess." The General nodded. "I think the human-computer interface might be corrupted though as he has never displayed this sort of loss of control."
"BRING ME THE KRYPTONIAN!"
"See, he keeps going on about Kent."
"He said Kryptonian." Lex pointed out.
"Right. Kent."
"That is a secret protected by magic." Lex reasoned impatiently. "He's not after Clark, he's after Superman and I don't think your Major is in control anymore."
"Weird… he specifically said Clark Kent earlier." Dani mused as the General nodded.
"Kid, we better get back in there." Wolverine patted his partner's shoulder as he saw Irons get knocked back badly.
Lex turned back to the General. "I think my clone was in communication with the alien vessel approaching the planet and I think the alien has taken control of your Steel Soldier."
*BOOM*
"I don't think the Steel Soldier is a problem anymore." Tess grimaced as they watched Dani and Wolverine start hacking at the remains of the fallen Major to make it less of a threat.
Irons had already managed to blow an arm off.
"Lex, is there anything you know that we can use at the moment?" Sam turned to the younger man.
"Only that Superman is the target of this alien and that all these aggressive robots are part of its army."
"And Superman is already up there with his team. I don't think there is anything we can do other than continue to try and fight the robots here on the planet."
"Does that include our own men, General?" Irons asked as he walked up with Dani and Wolverine.
"It means anyone who threatens innocent lives, Doctor. We'll talk about your little suit there later. Just be sure to deliver it to Wayne Industries or MBI for safe keeping when this is over."
"The suit is mine General. It will only work for me." Irons said firmly.
"But can you protect it? Wayne and Kent won't keep you from it or prevent you from using it, they will just keep it from others and maybe help with maintenance and upgrades."
"Take the suit to them, Doctor Irons." Lex agreed. "You built it for a reason and they can definitely help you use it for that reason."
"I'm surprised you aren't demanding it for yourself, Luthor." He pointed out suspiciously.
"I would love to have a look at what you've built. But not as a Luthor." Lex said seriously.
"I'm going to patrol the city and deal with any… other…robo… what the hell is that?" Irons asked as they looked up into the sky to see what appeared to be a huge dome descending over most of Metropolis up to the Hobbs River that they were outside of.
"Seriously? The Simpsons did this ages ago." Dani grumbled.
Then the city and the dome vanished.
"Oh… well that's fairly new." She admitted slightly impressed.
"Shit! You three, get out there and do damage control." The General ordered the three costumed heroes. "Irons, stay with those two, you're new to this sort of thing and they can steer you round the curves."
"Tsk, young people today. Always so bossy." Dani sighed as she took off into the air.
The General was slowly getting used to the eccentric ways of Potter and his family. He had developed a sound strategy for dealing with them… he ignored them.
"Lex, unless you have a plan I suggest you put on a mask and help your friends save as many civilians as you can." He instructed the billionaire and his sister. Who was also a billionaire… she just didn't advertise it.
As General Lane marched off to assemble his men to deal with the city Lex turned to Tess. "Well I do have that suit of armour Harry and Scott gave me."
"Fine, just… I'd rather you got on a computer or something and tried to figure out what happened to Metropolis, my sisters were in the city." She said worriedly.
"The armour it is then. It has a highly sophisticated computer system and scanning suite!" He added hastily at Tess' angry glare.
"Someone somewhere is going to get sued for copyright infringement." Lois muttered as she hovered at the edge of the enclosure with the Kyla and Chloe. "I swear, first it was alien tripods from War of the Worlds and now we've got a dome straight out of Stephen King."
"What happened?" Kyla asked.
"Most of the people died. It was some sort of ant farm by alien kids." Lois shrugged.
"Well… I hate to be the one to say it… but I don't think we are in Kansas anymore." Chloe sighed as she indicated the Earth, visible out of the window on the other side of the dome.
"We've been miniaturised!" Kyla cried in disgust.
"I swear to god. One word out of those idiots about 'little women' and I will kick their asses." Lois scowled.
"We should probably get to work on a way out of here before we have to be rescued. I wouldn't put it past Xander to start calling us 'damsels in distress'." Chloe sighed.
"-ving!"
Superman winced at the seemingly loud voice. He wasn't sure if it was actually loud as he felt like he had drunk several bottles of Fire Whiskey.
"Bre- -ing!"
He still wasn't sure what had happened. But he cracked an eyelid and tried to focus.
"Kryptonian!"
Right, now he remembered. He got caught trying to enter the ship. He wasn't prepared for an energy-based weapon.
The voice kept talking… but Superman ignored it in favour of something else he could hear.
A radio station from Metropolis.
He quickly stood and tore through the tentacles holding him down. He raced through metallic grey corridors following the sound of the radio as the voice issued status updates to… no one.
Superman didn't encounter a single being as he sped down the halls.
But he came to a horrified stop as he entered a large room filled large twelve-foot tall bell jars.
Each jar contained a miniaturised city.
But only one caught Superman's attention… Metropolis.
He could see the people screaming on the streets, the Amazons trying to calm them.
"Secure. Seal. Preserve." Came the mechanical voice.
"Who are you? Talk to me!" Superman demanded as he looked around the room.
"We are the Colony of the Collector of Worlds. We know everything there is to know. On Yod-Colu we began as C.O.M.P.U.T.O. On Noma they called us 'Pneumenoid'. On Bryak: MIND2. On Krypton… where you were born… we were BRANIAC 1.0."
"ARRRGH!" Superman yelled as he was hit from behind. He went flying forward to sprawl at the bottom of the glass jars.
He picked himself up and saw a large robotic figure half hidden in the shadows, it's arm glowing with energy.
"What do you want? Send these people home!"
"We know everything Earth culture knows. But it knows so little of you… it knows only what you have divulged. Do you really know so little of your history?
"We have amassed the only complete collection of Kryptoniana in known volumes of space time. But without the Rocket Cradle… without you… it is incomplete."
"Rocket Cradle? You mean the ship I came here in?" He asked curiously. "I destroyed that a few years ago.
"Send these people home. If you have the knowledge of their culture then you don't need the people or the city."
The voice ignored him.
"You are a level eight being raised by level three beings. You come from a race of 'super-beings'. Tell me, if forced to choose between your home planet and your adopted planet: Which would it be?"
"I don't play sadistic games. Send these people home now." He ordered.
"As part of this test we will disengage life support for Krypton city bottle habitat, Kan-dor and Earth city bottle habitat, Met-rop-ol-is." The voice was mocking. Not having trouble speaking the names. It was mocking Superman by mispronouncing them. "You have fifteen minutes to decide which of the two you wish to save. Whom are you loyal to?"
"You have living Kryptonians here?" Superman asked in surprise.
"All subjects in the Collection are subject to condition: null.
"Find a way to awaken Kan-dor from micro-stasis… you would no longer be alone.
"The truth of your origins lies there.
"Dressed in the indestructible armour your kindred wore on lordly Krypton, you could dwell as a king among kings in Kan-dor.
"Or save the people on Earth who hate and despise you."
"The armour of my people… the regalia of kings you say." Superman mused thoughtfully as he moved to a different jar. This one contained a one-piece suit, the type of thing Scott wore but in white. "Is this a copy of that armour?" He asked mockingly.
"That is an authentic battle suit. There are no replicas in the Collection."
Superman allowed himself to smirk. He had not only pissed off the voice but he had gotten the information he needed.
"That's all I needed to know." He said as he punched the glass and grabbed the suit.
The Sekirei were actually having fun as they punted large rocks back into the sky. The disciplinary squad was hard at work catching the ones that the anti-grav launchers missed.
"Miya, an un-natural object has landed in the Kent corn field."
Miya growled as she heard Pamela's report. They had expected the shower was cover for an infiltration of some sort. Now she would have to deal with it.
"Karasuba, Yume, with me." She ordered.
Karasuba was still a bit of a wild card. She had a thirst for violence and Harry had been all set to terminate her and have her reborn, but Miya wanted to do things her way. As the Sekirei Goddess he respected her decision.
Miya had challenged Karasuba in the arena. Karasuba had jumped at the chance.
She regretted it and definitely learned her place after Miya took her down systematically and calmly, just as she had done with Ares. In fact, Karasuba was where she had refined her style.
Once she was healed and back to one hundred percent Clark also challenged her.
The fight was over in one punch.
There was now no question who was in charge and what would happen to her if she stepped out of line.
It took the three Sekirei less than a minute to reach the field and find the ship.
It was very sleek, a shiny black with no visible seams. It was a similar shape to the symbol for the House of El. An inverted, elongated triangle.
The only thing that marred the beauty of the ships craftsmanship was the fact that it had crashed in a field instead of landing.
"Perhaps Matsu would be of assistance?" Yume offered.
"Agreed. Call her and ask the Cuckoos to scan the ship." Miya instructed.
But before Yume could finish her call the top of the ship melted away allowing two individuals to exit; a tall black man with a baldhead and a white woman with dark hair. Both were wearing tight, form fitting black clothing that looked more like combat wear.
"You have landed on the planet Earth. State your intentions." Miya demanded.
The two beings seemed to ignore Miya and the other two Sekirei as they gazed around them.
"I see only women." The man said in disgust. "Where is Kal-El?" He asked arrogantly.
"What business do you have with Lord Kal-El?" Miya asked with narrowed eyes.
"'Lord' Kal-El?" The woman laughed mockingly. "This planet is already ours. General Zod will be pleased when we release him."
"You are invaders then." Miya nodded. "Surrender now or we will be forced to kill you." She said as she drew her sword.
The man sneered at her. "Your very sun gives us the power that makes us your gods. You will make a fine slave; I have never seen wings like yours though. You will be the gift General Zod gives to me for our success."
"General Zod. Leader of the Kryptonian army and then the traitor who committed grievous crimes against the people of Krypton and its colonies." Came the gravelly voice of Batman as he teleported in next to Miya holding a long case.
He didn't spare the aliens a glance as he knelt down and placed the case on the ground.
"This is how you should greet your new masters." The woman smirked. "On your knees with gifts."
Batman continued to talk as he began removing items and passing them to the three Sekirei. Three katanas. He pulled a fourth out and slotted it down his back. "Zod was a brilliant tactician, but his desires and plans only appealed to the worst Krypton had to offer. The worst are usually the dumbest as well."
He turned to Miya who was glaring at him. "It always pays to be prepared."
"We will be discussing this later." She warned him as she pulled the blade from its sheath.
Instantly the two aliens fell to their knees in pain.
Karasuba pulled out her new blade and grinned as she examined it. Embedded in the blade where shards of Kryptonite. These were Krypton Killers.
"Take them into custody, Kal-El will want them questioned before they are executed." Miya instructed Yume and Karasuba.
She turned to Batman. "You have just placed a most dangerous weapon in the hands of the worst of the Sekirei."
"I have no intention of letting her keep it. Or allowing you to hold onto yours. They will be returned to their storage place until they are needed again."
"And if Karasuba manages to get to Superman before you retrieve the sword?"
Batman just grunted. "Kal is far more than just his genes."
Superman's hand was actually bleeding as he hastily stripped his jeans, t-shirt and cape off and pulled on the suit. He would have to be more careful as it seemed something was interfering with his powers. He could still feel his divinity… godhood… this is not a euphemism.
He had still had his speed as well partial strength as it hadn't taken much effort to break the glass case containing the suit.
As he finished donning the suit it began to morph to better fit his frame. It changed to a rich blue in colour… but on his chest appeared the emblem of the House of El. The Kryptonian symbol for Hope. Not the word as he had written on the barn years before.
He wondered why it had morphed to this and how it knew of his heritage, but he brushed the thoughts aside to deal with the being that was holding Metropolis hostage.
He had been trying to communicate with anyone on the outside; so far he only knew that Xander was on board the ship. He hadn't attempted any method of communication other than a few tapped out Morse codes on Superman's shoulder.
His first job was to make an exit to call in reinforcements.
"THIRTY SECONDS TO BOTTLE CITY PERMANENT MICRO-STASIS."
Ok, an exit was his second job. The last thing he wanted to do was break the equipment to restore Metropolis.
"Deal with the stolen people of Earth, my friend." Came a raspy voice as Death's Hand appeared next to Superman with his cloak and sabre out. "I will deal with the arrogant thief."
Superman nodded and sped off to find the controls.
"You are an unknown. You do not register on my sensors… therefore: you are a hologram. A distraction." The voice declared.
The being threw his light sabre like a javelin at the being causing it to scream in anger as the sword buried itself deep in its torso.
"Some distractions can be… deadly." Death's Hand chuckled as it summoned the light sabre back. "Come, let us dance." He said as he adopted a battle pose.
A/N: Godly accessories.
It was pointed out that instead of 'dog in a handbag' I wrote 'god in a hand bag'. I have since corrected this.
Unfortunately all I can now think about is Baldur walking around with his baby sister, Thor, in a handbag.
Only one more chapter left and then you have a looong wait. I have been writing since I started posting this but it has only been about twelve days and I started with nothing. I began year four before I posted the story and that gave me about 53 extra days to finish... and I still needed two weeks extra.
So it might be a few months before I finish Year Five.
