"Return"
Part 3 of 3
by Steave
How?
This was the only question racing through Lex Luthor's mind as he sat, staring at this . . . this God of a man. Only a split-second before, this crazy cameraman had pulled the trigger of his .9mm pistol, and a split-second later, Superman was there, his hand firmly placed between the bullet and Lex's bald head. He had caught the bullet, and Lex lived on.
"Ah, impeccable timing as always Superman."
The "cameraman assassin" gritted his teeth again, exposing his many cavaties and the like. Lois and Lex both held whatever was currently coming up into their mouth's back down.
"I don't know who you are, but I suggest that you drop the gun sir."
Superman released his grip on the bullet. The clank noise it made as it hit the studio floor was deafening.
"Oh, I don't think that will be happening any time soon . . . Superman."
Bulleting at nigh-unseeable speeds, the man barrowed into Superman, sending him through the concrete wall of the studio. Lois and Lex sat, flabbergasted, never before had they seen someone hit Superman like they had just seen. The man walked to the good-sized hole in the wall, his boots crunching on the concrete. A smile adorned his face, and he flew outside.
Superman was waiting and he threw an uppercut of his own, sending him flying towards the atmosphere. He knew that whoever this man was, he wasn't human. He could hear him chuckling to himself, even as he flew towards him.
"Good hit, Superman. But I think you're holding back."
The man ripped off the arm of his leather jacket, exposing his skin. But then, his skin shifted and began to turn into metal. Some new apparatus replaced his arm, it's appearance resembling that of a small cannon. With his other arm, he guided it towards Superman's direction, and let loose a blast of purple energy.
Superman only realized after he was hit with the blast just how powerful it was and he was sent rocketing towards the Daily Planet. With all his strength and resolve, he mustered enough force to stop himself, only seconds before he would've crashed through the revolving planet on top of the massive structure.
The last thing they need is more construction work, Superman thought to himself. The man still floated high in the heavens, his arm smoking with purple energy. Superman still wasn't sure what had hit him, but he wasn't about to let this beyond-human get a second try.
Just as he began to fly towards the man, he let loose another blast. Superman started to brace for impact until he noticed that the beam wasn't directed at him, but instead at one of Metropolis' beautiful skyscrapers.
Superman raced towards the beam, but arrived too late. The beam had hit it's target, and he could hear the man laughing. Too many things were happening at once, and everything seemed to slow down. Debris was falling onto the city below. People who were standing at the wall that had just been blown out were also falling to the city streets. A fire started to grow inside the building. And he was laughing, the man was just watching and laughing.
With his super-speed, he sped towards the falling innocents and caught them all, placing them each out of harm's way. Then, he flew upwards, catching the biggest pieces of debris, and holding onto them. As he floated towards the gaping hole, Superman let out a breath of cool air, and froze the fire. The people's screams of agony and hopelesness turned into cheers of joy.
Superman then threw the piles of debris he had gathered upon himself, hurling them at the man. The man did as Superman had predicted, and sliced through them with his arm, creating smaller chunks while getting them out of his sight. From directly behind the chunks of concrete sped Superman and his fist. It caught the man straight in his nose, sending him and blood flying.
Superman gave the man no chance to recover and, burning with rage, rocketed at him with full force. With both of his hands, he sledged the man, sending him sprawling towards Metropolis.
The man caught himself, just as Superman had done moments before. Blood was trickling from his nose, and it was a crimson blood. Superman then negated any feeling he had, doubting this man's humanity. But, he was still obviously different, just like him.
"That's it Superman, let's see that rage. Show me more . . . MORE!!!"
Superman let him have it. A red flame grew in his eyes, pulsating, and then finally exploding forth at the man. He caught him off guard, and the man's expression was that of disbelief. The beam struck him and kept coming, still sending him to Metropolis. Superman let off the heat, and barrelled at the man.
Superman landed in the middle of a street, waiting for the man's landing. As he began to land, Superman got underneath him and raised his right hand, flatening his hand parallel to the man's body. The small of the man's back landed, and was held, suspended by Superman's sheer strength.
Superman then let the man down, laying him on the ground. The police were already on the scene, and an officer who was wearing glasses and had a dark goatee and skin to match it was approaching Superman.
"We'll take it from here Superman."
"I trust you will Officer. . ." he stopped to read his badge. "Officer Allen. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some friends to check up on."
"Well, then don't let me get in your way."
He watched the Godlike being fly towards a human-sized hole in the side of the Daily Planet.
"Hey, hey Cris?"
Officer Mooney was calling from behind him and he turned to face him.
"Yeah Mooney?"
"What're we gonna do for this fella?"
"Take him in the SWAT truck."
"Right boss."
Crispus Allen turned back at the hole and said to himself, "Thanks again . . . Superman."
--
Lex and Lois had been standing at the hole, watching the entire fight, and neither had wiped the flabbergasted look of awe off of their faces since this entire event had begun. Hell, Lex had forgotten the fact that he had even been shot in his left arm. Blood was still dripping to the floor, but he was still so amazed by this . . . Man of Steel. This Superman. He was truly . . . a hero.
As if on cue, Superman flew back into the hole, "Are you both alright?"
Both of them nodded in sync.
Superman could only smile, "Well, we'll get some medics up here immediately for you Mr. . . . "
"Oh, Luthor . . . Lex Luthor."
Something in Clark's mind clicked . . . and then, Alexander Luthor's face came back into memory. His best friend from the little town of Smallville was standing right in front of him. He wanted to give this man an embrace, but he knew he couldn't, not like this.
"Well then, Mr. Luthor, we'll get some medical attention for you right away."
Superman turned to the hole that he came through and started to exit, when he stopped, turning to Lois Lane.
"We'll have to reschedule that interview I think Ms. Lane."
"Oh . . . ok."
Superman smiled that pearly white smile of his, and began to leave again when Luthor's voice stopped him short.
"Listen, tomorrow STAR Labs and LexCorp are officially and publically announcing our businesses merging. I was wondering if you would like to be there."
"Of course Luthor, I'll be there. Now you both go and get some rest."
Superman flew into the sky, vanishing. Lex, for once in his life, didn't know what to say.
--
Milton was awoken by a voice in his head, that voice, which now seemed metallic . . . robotic.
"You have done well Milton."
"But . . . But we didn't kill Superman."
"But now we do Milton . . . now we do. We know his weaknesses, and we will exploit them."
"So what now?"
"I will leave you now Milton, but let me tell you, your services will not go unnoticed, nor unrewarded."
The small chip that had attached itself to Milton last night, crawled off of his neck and out of the SWAT truck. Returning to that same back alley it found Milton in, it changed. It grew, turning into a human-sized robot. It was colored green and purple. Its eyes turned a fiery red and it raised it's wrist, talking through a comm-link.
"Master."
A dark, vile voice answered, "Have you succeded?"
"Yes, I know Superman's weaknesses. I did a thorough vital scan during his fight with Milton."
"Then it is time . . . you know what to do . . . Brainiac."
"Of course I do Master . . . of course I do."
THE END