CHAPTER 7/CONCLUSION
It would've been a relatively easy task for Composite Superman to rely upon not only his super-senses, ala the Daxamite legionnaire called Mon-El, but the telepathic powers, ala Imra Ardeen a.k.a. Saturn Girl, he'd used when first hovering near the two costumed heroes in a manner that, to Batman and Superman, sounded and looked like an electronically altered voice from a nondescript shadow-figure with glowing eyes.
But such would not have been nearly as much fun as first using his beyond-Superman super-powers, from the magnetic abilities of Cosmic Boy to the ability to make himself intangible ala Phantom Girl to the shape-shifting abilities of Chameleon Boy, which Xan had used to turn himself into a half-Superman/half-Batman physical entity, to the 12th Level genius of the green-skinned Braniac 5.
It would, however, be much more entertaining for Composite Superman to torment both Batman and Superman further by using his myriad super-powers to place ordinary citizens in harms way.
Not to mention fulfilling his honor-bound promise to both Lex Luthor and Joker to eradicate all potential corporate opposition and, in the process, perpetrate the greatest practical joke the Clown Prince of Crime could've imagined by making not only the police authorities of Gotham City scratch their collective heads, but by likewise confounding the Dark Knight.
Thus, becoming little more than a blue-red/blue-gray blur in the night sky, Composite Superman streaked away amidst his own cackling laughter that rolled like thunder from an approaching storm.
"Bruce, I still don't understand how coming to the Batcave will help us stop this Composite Superman," the Man of Steel said while pacing pensively about the cavernous depths of Batman's underground lair, even as the Dark Knight continued using a super-computer only a billionaire could afford to process tens of trillions of data-bits per second in relation to this newest, strongest super-villain.
"Beginning with what we know, Kal-El, we can attempt to find out exactly how Composite Superman came to be in our reality," said Batman matter-of-factly while Bat-gloved fingers danced adeptly across ergonomically-designed keyboards, one for each hand. "Perhaps, if we found the earthbound source, we could figure a way to force him back into his world. Otherwise…"
"I know," agreed Superman with a heavy, audible sigh. "It certainly looks like you and I can only hope to hold our own for a short time against such a foe. With all the powers he has at his disposal, he could, literally, come into the Batcave without tripping any of your sophisticated security systems. All he'd need do is use Phantom Girl's power to pass through nearly a half-mile of lead-lined rock then, once here, use Invisible Lad's power to render himself undetectable…even to my X-ray vision."
"Yes," hissed Batman in begrudging agreement, while still keeping his eyes, now uncovered by the temporarily removed cowl, on the various large and small computer screens. "He could even use Element Lad's powers again to turn your entire super-suit into Green Kryptonite. Then he could use Mon-El's super-speed and super-strength to rip me limb-from-limb as well as bring the entire Batcave down around our necks. Still…"
Before the Caped Crusader could finish, the Bat-wave alarm system, tied into every square foot of Gotham City proper, began blaring as Batman quickly called up, on the largest of the computer screens, precisely where a super-crime was currently taking place. Meantime, Superman stopped pacing and was now peering over his cowl-less colleague's shoulder.
"What is it, Bruce?"
"Looks like Composite Superman is raising all kinds of hell in downtown Gotham," said Batman while gesturing toward the grid-lined/labeled satellite map wherein a flashing bat-shaped symbol indicated the current location of such super-trouble. "Clearly the police are fighting a losing battle. Time to go, Kal-El."
Miles away from the subterranean lair of Batman, situated far below the equally impressive Wayne manor, Composite Superman was toying with Gotham's S.W.A.T. team who'd been summoned by GCPD upon arriving to fall prey to this being's super-powered mischief. The evidence of which rested everywhere in the form of twisted-by-hand cars and heat vision-melted streetlights along with several injured police officers.
"Nothing works!" said the helmeted, Kevlar-vested S.W.A.T. leader after seeing his similarly protected teammates expend thousands of rounds of high-caliber bullets along with several well-placed explosive RPG shells. The only result being Composite Superman laughing madly as he stood utterly unharmed or even dirtied by such coordinated attacks. "If only Batman and Superman were here to…"
As if in answer to that half-prayer, Superman's faster-than-sound approach created a window-rattling sonic boom even as the roar of the incoming Batmobile's turbo-engine merged to create the heroic commotion.
"Thank God," heaved one of the first GCPD officers on the scene, emptied Glock pistol still in one shaky hand.
"You said it," added the S.W.A.T. leader even as he was slapping the last ammunition magazine of 40-plus 5.56 NATO rounds into his FN SCAR-H close quarter combat assault rifle. Fully believing that Superman and Batman could, together or alone, take down this curiously garbed green-skinned super-villain.
Not realizing the very real danger now facing the celebrated costumed heroes.
"Superman…Batman, come to play?" said the smirking Composite Superman standing in the midst of what Batman's billionaire business mind quickly calculated to be tens of millions of dollars in damage, not to mention personal injury. "Too bad there's only one of me when I've got enemies on three fronts. Oh…wait."
Drawing upon the legionnaire Triplicate Girl's unique super-power, Composite Superman swiftly split himself into three equally powerful half-Superman/half-Batman super-villains, each capable of acting independently of the other.
"Sweet Jesus," said the S.W.A.T. leader under his breath as everyone watched and wondered just how Batman and Superman were going to battle such a mighty menace, let alone what was going to happen to Gotham City. "Fall back! Lay down cover fire!"
Having issued that unnecessarily loud order via helmet headsets, numerous FN SCAR-H assault rifles opened up, primarily at one of the three Composite Superman currently closing on their cover positions. But the 5.56 NATO rounds merely bounced harmlessly from the half-and-half chest of the green-skinned being from another reality.
Even as the Composite Superman currently smashing and tossing cars and S.W.A.T. vans about, along with a few police and S.W.A.T. officers unlucky enough to be within reach…
…the Composite Superman fighting Superman seemed, strictly on Mon-El versus Man of Steel's power and strength level, to be at an impasse, though the impossible combat between two super-strong/fast individuals began to take an even heavier toll on surrounding buildings than the Composite Superman engaging the GCPD and S.W.A.T.
That situation, however, would soon change the instant that Composite Superman decided to draw upon any number of Legion of Super-Heroes powers that the Last Son of Krypton simply did not have.
And what of Batman?
At that self-same instant, dozens of yards away, the Dark Knight was relying both on the various offensive/defensive devices packed into his Bat-belt as well as his years of training and experience in hand-to-hand fighting even against such a super-powerful opponent to barely maintain a status quo. But that situation, too, would soon change.
Shrugging off not only gimmicked attacks via the Caped Crusader, but the judo-karate forms of weaponless strikes that merely kept Composite Superman slightly off-balance and completely amused. Until it was time to be amused no longer.
"Enough of this!" roared the half-and-half super-villain fighting the Dark Knight as he called forth the abilities of Karate Kid, another legionnaire from another time and reality, in order to utilize, first, a combination of martial arts moves based upon every single instance of unarmed combat known not only to Man, but to various other sentient worlds in a time and place Batman could never fully comprehend.
Composite Superman's intent, utilizing the abilities of the only member of the Legion of Super-Heroes who had no super-powers, was to simply frustrate and embarrass Batman, who, because he had no super-powers either, had to learn and use similar martial arts techniques. But it wouldn't take long for Composite Superman to grow bored.
"Bah!" shouted this unique super-villain, the half of his green face not hidden by a single pointy-eared cowl screwing itself into a veritable mask of impatient rage, while simply using a single puff of Mon-El's super-breath to blow the Dark Knight more than a thousand yards away to crash so hard that the protective padding of his Bat-suit would most definitely be pushed to its absolute upper limits.
As far as Superman was concerned, the Composite Superman "triplet" currently battling him also decided it was time to bring the super-fun to an end while drawing upon a combination of legionnaire powers from the likes of Shadow Lass to create a sphere of absolute pitch black darkness about a staggered-by-super-blows Man of Steel and, then, to just as quickly draw upon Star Boy's ability to manipulate any object or person's mass.
Before Superman could so much as use his X-ray vision to penetrate the obsidian sphere devouring him so completely, the Kryptonian suddenly found, first, his arms and, then, his legs seemingly weighing as much as earthly mountain ranges which, in turn, overcame his super-strength in order to force him face-down onto the already shattered roadway.
"What's wrong, Superman, something got you down?" laughed Composite Superman, certain that such was fulfilling two honor-bound obligations: first, Lex Luthor would no doubt appreciate, via the LexCorp-supported security cameras capturing this mega-fight, and, second, the Joker would probably be laughing his green-haired head off not only over what was being done to Superman, but the way another of the three so easily humiliated and defeated Batman with what amounted to a simple puff.
"Enough play," said Composite Superman as his own echoing laughter faded away and three once again merged into a single super-villain standing triumphant in the midst of a mostly destroyed city block. "Now it's time. Time to finish you both. Starting with you, Superman."
Even as Composite Superman, no longer divided into three, was slowly walking toward a fallen Man of Steel, Batman was, even then, jogging back toward the site of super-battle. A thought having struck him the moment a weary mind allowed all the data the Batcave's super-computers had amassed and correlated regarding this half-and-half super-villain.
A possible weakness to exploit.
"Stop!" shouted the Caped Crimefighter just as Composite Superman used both Mon-El's super-strength and Star Boy's mass manipulation powers to lift an unmoving Superman high above his half-cowled head. "Put him down…or else!"
Composite Superman's unhidden half of a green-skinned face formed a bemused expression of curiosity in Batman's bravado while lowering the Man of Steel, who was still under the mass-increasing power borrowed from Star Boy and could not manage to so much as get to his hands and knees, then said, "And just what do you think you're going to do, Batman? You've used up your little belt's devices and you already know I can outmatch your hand-to-hand fighting techniques. What could you possibly have to use against me now?"
"Just this," was the Dark Knight's ready response while reaching behind his caped back once again, as if to pull out the specially-designed Bat-knuckles he'd unsuccessfully used against Composite Superman in the warehouse.
Chuckling, the super-villain who was literally half-Superman/half-Batman, in appearance, not counting Braniac 5's green skin, said, "Surely you don't think the Kryptonite you used earlier will have any more affect on me now. If you do, then you have surely been pushed past the point of rational…"
Before Composite Superman could finish the smirking remark, Batman had removed the lead-lined compartment carrying the Green Kryptonite Bat-knuckles and, instead of opening it to repeat something he knew would not work, the Caped Crusader's brilliantly analytical, for a mere human, mind had correctly reasoned that the half-and-half super-villain was, like Mon-El, according to data gathered from Superman himself in the Batcave, deathly allergic to lead.
A fact made painfully clear when, once within range of Composite Superman, the multi-powered being called Xan from another reality began to weaken even as Superman found himself no longer under the influence of Star Boy's powers and clambered to his red-booted feet.
"Surrender," demanded Batman, "or die."
"Never!"
Suddenly, with a burst of Mon-El's powers of super-strength, super-speed, and flight, Composite Superman streaked away, leaving Gotham City behind in favor of Metropolis hundreds of miles away. Which, flying at super-speed, could be reached in mere seconds.
"How…?" began Superman as he shook off the aftereffects of his one-on-one battle with a super-being stronger, in terms of myriad super-powers and abilities, than himself.
Batman was quick to explain, as he reattached the lead-lined compartment, still shielding the Man of Steel from the two Green Kryptonite Bat-knuckles therein, to his yellow Bat-belt, "There was so much information regarding a person endowed with so many super-abilities that it took me a little time to mentally assimilate it all in order to deduce just what Composite Superman might have as a weakness, just as Kryptonite is your weakness."
"Then," began Superman as he prepared to take flight, "we'd better find him before he has a chance to fully recuperate and…"
"No need, my friend," said Batman with a bone-weary sigh betraying the fact that he'd been operating for days without sleep. "You see, according to some of the data my Bat-computers gathered and cross-referenced…which, I'm sorry to say, took longer than it should have for me to comprehend…Lex Luthor and LexCorp were responsible for bringing Xan to this reality. At least partially. Now that Composite Superman's failed and now that Luthor knows his weakness is lead…"
"Wait," said Superman with a puzzled scowl, "just how the hell would Luthor know about Composite Superman's weakness?"
"The same way he knows Composite Superman failed tonight," said the Caped Crusader as he gestured toward one of hundreds of security cameras attached to streetlights, traffic lights, and some buildings, which Superman confirmed with his super-vision.
Superman smiled and nodded, "Very good, Batman. Now, more than before, it's clear to me how someone without super-powers can still be a super-hero."
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the loser," sniggered Joker as Composite Superman, more or less recovered since leaving Batman's lead-lined compartment pouch, streaked into the opulent penthouse at super-speed.
"Do not test me, Joker," snarled Composite Superman. "My obligation to you does not include being taunted by a white-faced…"
With a push of a button on a special control remote in the hands of the seated, in a plush sectional sofa, Lex Luthor, Composite Superman suddenly found himself encased in what amounted to a lead cage. One apparently meant as some sort of anti-personnel device should the billionaire bad guy ever be confronted by one or more disgruntled LexCorp managers. Something that had, in fact, occurred in years past.
To think, Lex had chosen lead for the cage's construction simply because only the likes of Superman would have the strength necessary to bend such extremely dense bars. And, now…
"You were right, Lexie," laughed Joker, "and, unfortunately, so was Batman. Our super-powered pawn is subject to…dare I say it?…lead poisoning. Hahahahahahahaha!"
"Let…me…out…"
That weakening plea from Composite Superman was further emphasized when all the powers within Xan, including Chameleon Boy's, virtually melted away and he shape-shifted back into his own colorless, orange-haired alien humanoid in a color combination outfit that elicited a hand-clapping, hooting cheer.
"Well, now, looks like you and I have the same tailor, Xannie. Except you like your coat and pants to be green while I like mine to be purple. Heheheheheheheheh!"
"What…do…you…plan…to…do…Luthor?" asked Xan haltingly as his transformation back into his true non-Legion powered self became complete down to the last molecule. His tone still pleading, even though his expression remained defiant.
"For now," Lex replied with a smug smile, "I'll send you back to your reality. Making sure that LexCorp's gateway device has a few security measures added to insure that you can't return unless I decide…until I determine it is time, once again, for Composite Superman to take on the likes of Superman and Batman. And to make certain you would comply with my wishes and plans…I'll have a special gun created that would fire armor-piercing super-sharp slug-darts of lead designed to deliver an injection of liquid lead into your super-system."
"But, Lex baby," said Joker in seriousness, even though such was not something his permanently grinning white features could ever hope to facially express, "what about me?"
In answer, Lex Luthor pressed another button on the special remote and, answering some unheard signal, several heavily armed, with black MP5 sub-machineguns locked-and-loaded just prior to stepping through the automatically opening double doors. All aimed at the Clown Prince of Crime.
"You really know how to hurt a guy, don't you, Lexie?" said Joker as, after heading out of the penthouse proper, the green-haired hood half-turned to deliver what, to him, was an uplifting silver-lining type viewpoint. "Well…at least I'm not in that awful Arkham Asylum. I can still have some fun with the Bat…before I do go back. Hahahahahaha! Heheheheheheheh!"
The very next night, after Superman swiftly rounded up all the lesser evils, along with Penguin and Riddler, of course, and placed them back into protective custody at Arkham, whose walls the Man of Steel also repaired at super-speed and after Bruce Wayne finally caught up on his sleep before donning the cowl and cape again…
"Two-Face," said a sophisticated thug in the temporary employ of the former district attorney of Gotham City, Harvey Dent, prior to the acid attack that turned him into the half-ruined visage he became with a tense sigh. "Now that Superman and Batman have sent everyone back to Arkham, just how long do you think it'll take before the Dark Knight figures out that you're still at large? I mean, we haven't even gotten to pull off any big jobs yet."
The Bifurcated One turned his half-handsome/half-horrifying face toward the thug who dared to bring up such a question, then tossed his special double-headed coin up to tumble into the air of the ex-gangbanger hideout he and those had followed him initially took by force, leaving several gangbangers swimming in pools of intermingling blood.
When it came down, Two-Face caught it in one hand and slapped it down on the back of the other. Then slowly moved the catching hand to reveal…
"Sorry, my friend," said Two-Face as he held up the scarred half of the two-headed coin. "Guess this isn't your lucky day."
"Two-Face, no!" pleaded the henchman even as the Bifurcated One pulled his stainless steel finished .45 caliber Ruger Blackhawk revolver and fired directly at the cowering man's forehead.
"Nobody likes someone to say 'I told ya so'," said Two-Face to the now headless corpse staining already nasty floors of his temporary ex-gangbanger hideout. The "hand cannon" letting thick, white smoke and the acrid smell of gunpowder permeate the stale air.
"Put it away, Harvey," said the all-too-familiar voice of Batman from the shadows beyond an open doorway, causing the split-faced villain to aim his still-loaded Ruger Blackhawk in that direction. "Don't waste your bullets, Harvey. You already know they won't keep me from taking you in."
With a shallow shrug, Two-Face tossed aside the weapon while saying, "Ah, well…you can't blame a guy from trying."
END