Chapter 92: Funeral for a Son
Disclaimer: All things Supergirl/Superman belong to DC. No infringement is intended.
For two weeks straight the skies were red. The clouds were black as coal and lightning bolts as bright as the sun forked through the screaming heavens. The winds howled, the thunder boomed, and between the agonized cries of nature those with sharp hearing could occasionally make out sounds that appeared to be the clash of mighty weapons, accompanied by the screams of the wounded and dying.
There was no rhyme nor reason as to why this was happening. Scientists around the globe scratched their heads, attempting and failing to figure out this strange phenomenon. Unknown to them, sentients across the entire universe were attempting the same, as the red skies were visible on all worlds across creation. Yet only very few, such as the mighty Guardians of the Universe, powerful and knowledgeable beyond mortal ken, were able to figure out the cause of the conflagration. And even they stood helpless before it.
It was the Twilight of the New Gods. The final battle between the citizens of bright New Genesis and the legions of dark Apokolips, which shook the universe. Stars died, galaxies burned, and the heavens screamed as gods made war against each other. Suns were snuffed, their energies used to power weapons of such size and magnitude that even the fabled War World seemed insignificant in comparison. God machines the size of solar systems exploded, devastating entire sectors. Whole civilizations were wiped out. Empty Green Lantern rings fled across space, seeking new bearers to replace the ones who had foolishly tried to end the conflict. For two weeks the universe itself stood on the brink.
And then, one day, it suddenly stopped. The skies returned to normal, there were no more letters of flame, and the universe ceased to scream in agony. A deep silence seemed to hold sway over the cosmos as no one dared to hope that it was finally over. But then, people all over creation sighed in relief, happy that whatever had happened was evidently over now.
For some, though, it had only just begun.
WORLD WITHOUT A SUPERMAN
A Daily Planet Editorial by Perry White
It feels like it has only been a few weeks since I was first introduced to an eager young man who wanted nothing more than to use his amazing abilities to help as many people as possible, just like his amazing mother before him. In reality, though, it has been over four years since the day I first talked to the boy who would become Superman and in those oh so short years he has done so much good for this sorry world.
When India and Pakistan suffered from a tidal wave, he was there to help. When a supernatural tornado devastated Metropolis, he fought alongside other young heroes to drive it off. When the Dominators threatened to destroy our world, he flew across space to assemble an alliance of aliens to save us all. These are just a few examples of the good he has done. At this point it is safe to say that nearly every single person living on this world has a reason to be grateful that we had a Superman.
Sadly, our world has changed. Details are still sparse, but here is what we know. Superman is dead. It is strange to write these words, because for a long time it seemed that nothing and no one could ever hurt this wonderful young man who was here to protect us. Something has killed him, though. We do not know who or what, but thanks to several eye witnesses we know how it happened.
Superman died as he lived, giving his all to protect someone. In this case he gave his life to protect someone he loved, his own mother. He threw himself into harm's way without hesitation. A true hero to the very end.
As we now live in a world without a Superman, our thoughts are with the grieving mother who has lost her son, with his little sister who has lost her big brother, and with his teammates and friends who have lost a fellow hero. Our world is better for having had a Superman. And it is poorer for having lost him.
Rest in peace, Superman. We will never forget you.
The memorial service for Kal-El, Superman, took place at the Hall of Justice outside Metropolis. Almost every single superhero the world had ever seen was present. Representatives from the Omega Men of Vega, the citizens of Alstair, and the planets Colu and Rann were present as well, paying their respects. A huge crowd had gathered outside, many of wearing black armbands with the famous symbol on it, and held a silent vigil for a fallen hero.
It was a bit of a surprise to most people present that Superwoman did not step up to the podium to speak a few words. As a matter of fact, she spent the entire memorial service simply standing beside the podium, her face entirely devoid of emotions. Only the dark circles under her eyes proved that she was more than a statue. It was Princess Diana, Wonder Woman, who opened the service instead.
"Though he was born on a planet far from here," Diana began, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, "Superman was but a small child when he came to Earth. This was the only home he ever knew. It was on this world that he grew into a man. It was this world that he loved and was doing his best to protect. So we will remember him as one of us. We will remember him as someone who was human in all the best ways. He is no longer with us, but as we deliver his spirit into the afterlife, we pledge that we will never forget him.
"And now, some of Superman's friends and family want to say a few words."
Wally West, the Flash, was the first to step up to the podium, where he spoke a few words about his friend and how they had first met, the world's first teenage superheroes, and how they got the idea to create the Teen Titans. Wally's voice shook, but he made it through his prepared speech, included a few funny anecdotes, and kept his tears at bay until he stepped away from the podium again. Only those with enhanced hearing heard him mutter his final words.
"Goodbye, Clark!"
Tigorr from the Omega Men spoke fondly of the insolent young pup who had threatened to skin him if he refused to help him and Kona find their mother. He spoke of the Superman who, together with his family and comrades, had saved so many lives during the final day of the Citadel War in Vega, and how people on all those worlds would always remember him as a hero, a savior, a champion of justice.
"And on the day we find the bastard who killed him, rest assured that the entire might of Vega will be there to enact bloody vengeance!"
Many more came, talking of how they met Superman, how they worked alongside him, how they were saved by him. Despite only having been an active hero for four short years, Superman had clearly touched the lives of many.
Finally, Supergirl, Kona Kara-El, stepped up to the podium and cleared her throat.
"I have only been a part of this family for three years, but even though we have not grown up together in the classical sense, Kal-El has been my brother. The best brother any girl could ask for. He helped me, he protected me, he got on my nerves, he drove me up the walls, and I came to love him. I... I honestly have no idea what to do now, except for one thing: I will always remember my big brother. And I will always try my best to live up his example. Thank you!"
Throughout the entire service, Superwoman never once moved, nor showed any emotions on her face. And when the service finally ended, she disappeared in a blur of super speed.
At a coffee shop near Metropolis University, a young woman with red hair was sitting at a table. The coffee she had ordered was rapidly cooling in front of her, she had not touched it since her first sip. She was simply staring off into space, her thoughts somewhere else entirely.
"Mind if I sit here?" a voice startled her out of her thoughts. Looking up, Lena Luthor (still going by the name Ruthlo at the university) met the eyes of another woman. She needed a moment to recognize her, which was more a result of her own state of mind than anything else. After all, how many other people did she know with whom she had had an adventure in outer space? Lois Lane, reporter from the Daily Planet, stood beside her table.
"Sure," she simply said, not sure why she was saying it. Sure, they had been through rather extraordinary circumstances together, but that didn't make them friends or anything. They had exchanged contact information after the Dominator invasion, yes, but Lena had never really intended to follow up on that.
For many minutes, there was nothing but silence at the table, neither of the two women even looking at each other. Finally, Lois turned towards her.
"So I hear Clark has left the university and is back in Kansas?"
Lena blinked, surprised. Lois knew Clark?
"Uh... yeah. At least that's what I was told. Some kind of... well... there was a, a death in the family, I think." She tensed, needing all of her considerable self-control to keep her voice neutral. "He left before I could even tell him goodbye."
"Yeah," Lois simply said, taking a sip from her own coffee. "I didn't get to say goodbye to him, either."
For a long minute the two women simply looked at each other without saying a word. Neither of them needed to speak, they could both see it in the eyes of the other. There was no need to say it out loud.
Both of them knew that Clark Kent was not coming back.
Five days after the memorial service, Superwoman was seen flying over Metropolis and several other cities. People waved to her, as they usually did, though with an added element of sympathy this time. People were amazed at her fortitude and strength, that she was capable of going on with her life and her duties despite the terrible loss she had suffered.
Only a handful of people knew that this was as far from the truth as was possible.
The blonde woman in the famous red and blue suit, having completed a circuit over North America, touched down at the Kent farm and walked into the barn, where Kona was waiting for her.
"Everything worked?" Kona asked.
The woman nodded, then took off a bracelet from her right arm, handing it to Kona. A moment later her form rippled, shrinking down, until she appeared to be no older than 10. A few grains of sand fell to the ground during the transformation, but were quickly absorbed back into the now smaller form.
"I could feel my molecular structure begin to change during the last few minutes," Sandy told Kona. "It was about 55 minutes in."
Kona nodded, studying the bracelet. Her mom and she had worked on it for several weeks before they had become distracted by so many other things. Kona had finally finished it yesterday, though it seemed there were still some bugs to work out. It should have held out for at least an hour.
"There appears to be some kind of disruptive harmonic between the solar charge and the stabilizing field," she told Sandy. "I think we can work that out, but..."
She trailed off, looking around the barn.
"Not here," Sandy said, knowing what she was thinking.
Kona nodded sadly. All the tools and equipment she needed to perfect this little device that allowed Sandy to stabilize her molecular structure and thus display the full abilities of a Kryptonian under a yellow star for more than a few seconds at a time were at the Fortress. Usually that would not be a problem, but nothing about the current circumstances was usual.
"I take it Kara is still not responding to any attempts at communication or entry?" Sandy asked, knowing the answer.
Kona shook her head. "Not a single peep since she sealed herself into the Fortress and locked us all out. Neither Diana nor Bruce nor I can enter, the force field springs up when we try. Diana or I could probably power through the field, but I am not sure how much damage that would do to the Fortress."
"What do you think she is doing?" Sandy asked.
Kona looked at her. "Shouldn't you be able to tell me that?"
"No," Sandy said. "While I do have a complete copy of Kara's memories up to the moment she came into contact with the Phantom Zone Projector, that is just information, nothing more. I have her speech patterns, her body language, and I can tell you how she will react when faced with familiar situations, based on her past experiences. But faced with the unknown? I have no idea."
Kona sighed. "Martha thinks that she is grieving. Apparently when mom was young, she often disappeared for a few hours or so when the memories of Krypton became too much for her. It took years before she was comfortable enough with Martha and Jonathan to let them console her."
"It's been more than a few hours, though," Sandy said. "How long do you think we should wait before we... do something?"
Kona looked down. "I have no idea, Sandy."
Alfred Pennyworth, faithful butler, and father in all but blood to the masked crusader known as the Batman, could only shake his head in frustration.
"Master Bruce, please," he pleaded once again, knowing it was futile. "You need to get some rest."
The Batman was still sitting in front of his computer, as he had done for the last three weeks almost without pause. He barely slept, he barely ate or drunk anything, he did not even go on patrol. His eyes were still glued to the screen, going through the same files over and over again.
Every traffic camera, security camera, news broadcast, and other recordings of the confrontation with Darkseid and the death of Superman. He was watching the event over and over again, from every angle imaginable.
"Don't let them take Clark," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. "Don't let them take Clark!"
For more than two years, ever since his brief visit to the time-lost city of Kandor, the Batman had kept a close eye on Clark Kent, aka Superboy aka Superman. He had been given a warning from the future, so he had done his best to ensure that the son of his best friend would be protected. It had led him to discovering the true identity of Lena Ruthlo aka Lena Luthor. He had averted half a dozen attempts on Superman's life (though he doubted any of them would have been successful, even had he not intervened), just to be on the safe side.
Now, though, it had all been for naught. Because Clark was dead. The son of his best friend was dead, and he had been helpless to stop it. For the Batman, this was simply not acceptable. So he would keep at it. He had no idea what he was looking for, to be honest, but he refused to admit defeat.
"Don't let them take Clark!"
"It's been a week," Diana declared, standing at the head of a small group of people. "It's time we go in there."
Kona, Sandy, J'Onn, Adam, Batman, Hippolyta, and Philippus stood half a mile away from the Fortress, the arctic wind being ignored by all people present. Martha and Jonathan had wanted to come as well, but Diana and Kona had both put their foot down, considering the harsh environment. Especially after what had happened a few hours ago.
"The quake has subsided," Adam said, consulting his armor's scanner. "No aftershocks in the last ten minutes."
"And we're sure it originated from the Fortress?" Kona asked, though she knew the answer.
"Positive," Adam replied. "Whatever Kara is doing in there, it caused one of the largest tremors ever recorded in this part of the world. Thankfully it didn't cause any tidal waves, but there is no telling what might happen the next time."
"We've left her alone long enough," Batman simply said. The Dark Knight looked worn and tired, but one would never be able to tell by his stance or speech. "Kara clearly needs our help, whether she admits it or not."
"Okay, let's go then," Diana said, striding forward. "Kona, you and I will crack the force field. Then we're heading in!"
Kona simply nodded.
Three minutes later the group was inside the fortress, evident by the gaping hole where the entrance had refused to open for them. Diana and Kona were a bit bruised and winded from smashing through the force field and the crystal wall, but quickly shook it off.
A weird humming sound was filling the entire structure.
"It's coming from the main laboratory wing," Kona said, taking off in that direction a moment later, Diana hot on her heels.
Coming to a stop at the entrance to the Fortress wing dedicated to research and experimentation, the two of them gaped at the sight before them. The others quickly joined them, just as awestruck.
A huge machine was filling up a large portion of the space before them. It looked nothing like the elegant crystal constructions usually favored by Kryptonians. In fact, there was nothing elegant about it at all. It looked like something cobbled together from whatever parts could be found, barely holding together, and like it had been designed by an Impressionist painter high on mushrooms. Energy currents flickered across exposed wires, the humming was almost loud enough to be painful, and those in the group with enhanced hearing could make out something in the ultrasonic range as well.
Something that sounded like tic-tic-tic.
"It's a Motherbox," Kona gaped, not quite believing it. "Mom is trying to build a Motherbox!"
Diana shared a worried look with Batman. "Then we were right. She is trying to get to Darkseid!"
A blur whooshed across the laboratory space and came to a stop in front of them.
"Get out, all of you!" Kara screeched. "You cannot be here!"
All of the assembled group gasped once again, taken aback by the state of the woman before them. The dark circles under Kara's eyes had become so pronounced they almost looked painted on, her hair was wild and unkempt, and her eyes were bloodshot. When she came to a stop before them, she briefly stumbled before rightening herself once again.
"Goddess, what are you doing?" Philippus asked, carefully moving towards her.
Kara's eyes briefly focused on her but flickered away again almost as quickly. She refused to meet any of their eyes.
"It is too dangerous for you to be here," she merely said, wringing her hands. "The last Boom Tube was unstable, but I know I have almost got it done!"
"Kara, please," Batman told her. "Your last attempt caused a quake that nearly shattered half the Arctic ice cap! You need to stop!"
Kara did not seem to hear his words at all.
"I can do it," she went on, not looking at any of them. "My scanner bracelet recorded the exact frequency of the Boom Tube Darkseid used. All the Boom Tubes have unique frequencies. If I can match it, it should take me straight to him!"
"And what will you do then, Karen?" J'Onn asked, his voice soothing. Kona could almost feel the telepathic vibes he was sending out, trying to project a feeling of calmness towards Kara.
Kara's eyes snapped towards J'Onn. "He killed my son! I will end him, J'Onn! I thought you of all people would understand that!"
"Sister, please," Diana told her. "When the time comes to punish the one who took Clark's life, know I will stand by your side without hesitation. But right now, you are not in any kind of condition to face him!"
"I cannot wait," Kara refuted. "Whatever battle they were in, it has obviously ended. He will be tired, maybe hurt. Now is the time!"
She blurred towards what appeared to be a control console and reached for a lever, but before she could pull it, Kona was beside her and caught her arm.
"Mom, please!" Kona pleaded with her. "This machine isn't stable! It's not safe! And even if it works, you... you saw how easily he..."
Kara hesitated, looking down at her, even as Kona's eyes filled with tears.
"I already lost my brother," Kona pleaded. "I can't lose you, too, mom!"
Kara's hand slackened, no longer trying to force itself towards the lever.
"I... I have to do this, Kona," she said, though her voice was quivering. "I have to find Darkseid! I have to..."
"Yes, but why now?" Kona asked. "Why alone?"
"Because it should have been me!" Kara screamed, hammering her fist into the wall, and causing crystal shards to fly everywhere. Kona took a step back. "I am the one who was supposed to die that day, not Clark! Never Clark! It was my duty to save him, to keep him alive! I was his protector, but I did not protect him! He was all I had left of Krypton and now he is gone!"
Kara dropped to her knees and Kona wanted to talk to her, wanted to say something, but she had no idea what. She was more than grateful when Diana was suddenly there, kneeling down beside Kara, and taking the trembling woman into her arms.
"Sister, Clark didn't want you to die! He wanted to save you, just like you saved him so many times. Like you have saved all of us! He acted like you taught him to act. Like you would have acted, had the situation been reversed."
"But it was not supposed to be this way," Kara yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He was my son! Sons are not supposed to die before their parents! He is the last son of Krypton; he should have lived! He was the only reason I survived, the only reason I did not die with my planet! Clark could have survived without me! All of you could have survived without me!"
She looked at Diana with complete and utter devastation in her eyes. "But how am I supposed to survive without him? Why did I survive at all if I could not even protect my son?"
Kona still had no idea what to say, nothing in her short life had prepared her for this kind of situation. Even Diana seemed lost for words, instead simply holding Kara, and whispering soothing nonsense in her ears. All strength seemed to go out of Kara as she was being held, her entire body shivering from exhaustion.
And her hand...
"Mom, your hand..." Kona began, eyes widening in disbelief.
Kara followed her line of sight and gazed at her hand, the one that had just smashed the crystal wall apart. Blood was seeping from a deep cut in her palm.
"What?" Kara whispered, not comprehending what she was seeing. "Blood? I am … bleeding?"
A moment later Kara's eyes rolled back into her head and she fainted.
End Chapter 92
Author's Note: Welcome to the new year and the next chapter of AoaSF. I know this chapter was a bit depressing and very much lacking in action, but I promise things will change come next chapter, as we begin to pick up steam for our journey towards chapter 100.
Up next: Fever!