Issue #25 – SHOWDOWN

Fortress of Solitude:

He crashed through the ice ceiling, landing hard on the floor of the great monument to Krypton. Superman's eyes scanned the Fortress, noticing Lois lying on the ground. She had been beaten badly. Her face was swollen, blood rushed from her nose as well as various cuts all over her body.

Using his x-ray vision, Superman saw that Lois had a few broken rips but there was no life threatening injuries. He untied Lois and removed the gag that had covered Lois' mouth, allowing her to speak.

"It's a trap…"

Clark didn't have time to react as a fist connected with his jaw, knocking him to the floor. Regaining his composure, he stood up, staring at Zod who was smiling viciously. Next to him, Lex Luthor stood and laughed, mocking the Caped Wonder.

"Well hello there Superman…or is it Kal-El…or Clark? You know you really should make up your mind. After all it's not fair on Miss Lane here, what's she supposed to write when she does your obituary for the Planet?"

"Save it Luthor…you're going to pay for what you've done…"

"Perhaps…but not in this lifetime…General, you wanted to kill Kal-El…go right ahead."

Zod grinned for a moment before charging at Clark, connecting with a powerful punch to his chest, then following up with an uppercut to his chin, sending Superman backwards against the crystal wall of the Fortress. As Zod attacked again, Superman responded, kicking out and getting to his feet, grabbing Zod's head and slamming it into his knee.

As Zod recovered, Clark ran at Luthor, stopping suddenly, feeling a familiar pain throughout his body. Stepping back, Clark turned into a punch from Zod, who followed up by blasting the Man of Steel with a powerful surge of heat energy at close range.

Retaliating, Clark flipped his body, bringing his legs up together to strike Zod in the face before twisting and charging fists first into the Kryptonian General. Staggering backwards, Zod didn't have time to react as Superman blew a gust of wind, sending Zod crashing through the ceiling and onto the ice above.

Flying after him, Superman grabbed a hold of Zod's legs, dragging him through the air, higher and higher, before tossing him violently back through the ice smashing into the Fortress floor.

Without wasting any time, Superman descended rapidly, driving his foot into Zod's chest and pushing him into the wall, delivering a right hook to Zod's face and a blast of heat vision aimed at Zod's own eyes, causing the General to cry out in pain.

Luthor was shocked. He had never seen Superman display such a ruthless use of his power…had he been holding back all these years or was it anger that was driving him forward? Whatever it was, it didn't matter. Lex began to realise that this was a fight that Zod couldn't win. Not that it mattered, Lex Luthor always had a plan B.

Zod attacked again with a flurry of punches, getting frustrated as Superman dodged each one, ducking under the last and striking with a heavy blow to Zod's stomach, then lifting Zod's head and with a tremendous force, delivered the final strike, his fist connecting with Zod's face, sending him flying back across the Fortress towards Luthor.

"No more games Lex…you lose."

"Not quite…Clark."

Superman watched and waited as Zod struggled to stand. He had been one of the most trusted advisors to the Science Council on Krypton. After waging war against its people, he had finally been stopped by Jor-El and now his son, Kal-El was laying waste to him. Zod's body was bruised, his bones broken. But now he was feeling a different kind of pain.

Turning as he stood, he saw Luthor holding something, his hand outstretched. Zod recognised the green glow coming from the object as kryptonite. Lex smiled, walking towards a control panel, activating one of the crystal switches. After his battle with Superman, when Brainiac had controlled his body, the artificial intelligence had been destroyed, but Luthor still retained some of the knowledge and instinctively knew how to operate Kryptonian technology.

The Fortress grew dark, light energy flashed across the main cavern, focussing on a central point….a small wormhole began to form, acting like a black hole, sucking in anything nearby that wasn't bolted down. While Lex waited behind the control panel and Lois hid behind one of the large crystal pillars, Superman stood firm as Zod backed into him. Zod knew where the wormhole lead to and he was determined not to go back there.

"You betray me Luthor? You wish to send me back to the Phantom Zone…but I won't go back…I won't go back."

"You failed Zod…you can't defeat him…so you are of no further use to me. Goodbye Zod."

Superman didn't move as Zod held onto his cape, trying desperately to pull himself away from the wormhole. By the time Zod realised who he had been holding on to, he didn't care, he just wanted to escape the fate that Jor-El had placed upon him years ago.

Clark however, knew that Zod was too dangerous. He knew that Zod would destroy everything and everyone he held dear if he let him escape. grabbing Zod by his clothes, Clark lifted him up, preparing to throw him into the portal that led to the Phantom Zone. He had declined a chance to put Zod back in the Phantom Zone years before, a mistake he wouldn't make again.

"I won't go back…I won't…"

"There's no other way Zod…when you're in there, think about all the things you've done…the people you've hurt. Perhaps someday you will be released again if you can truly change your ways…think about it."

Superman held onto a pillar with one hand, throwing Zod towards the wormhole with the other. He watched as Zod disappeared into the Phantom Zone before the wormhole collapsed and disappeared.

When he turned back around to face Luthor, he felt his strength suddenly start to leave him as he fell to the floor in pain. Green and red energy surrounded him, draining his power. He realised then what was happening. Luthor was using the same machine to drain Clark's energy that Clark himself had used on Zod in their first encounter. His cells became filled with red sun and kryptonite energy, his abilities…flight, strength, speed, various breath and vision powers, his strong hearing, all disappeared.

When it was over, Clark stood up and spotted Lex Luthor who was standing at the control panel.

"Why…why didn't you kill me?"

""Oh don't worry…not-so-super…man. But it's not enough to just kill you. I want to squeeze the life out of you with my bare hands. In past encounters, you've had the advantage of being a god…well I want to know what you're like…what happens when a god becomes a mortal…two men…a fair fight."

"A fair fight? That doesn't sound like you."

"Sure it does…what better way to hurt you than to make Miss Lane here watch as I beat the life out of you? You're nothing without your powers…care to prove me wrong?"

"You're holding kryptonite…"

"Oh your right," Luthor said, before putting the chunk of kryptonite into a small lead box, "I'm sure Miss Lane won't mind holding on to it."

Lex tossed the box towards Lois who caught it and put it in her pocket. She knew that Lex had to be up to something, it wasn't like him to fight fair.

"Don't do it Clark…you can't trust him," Lois pleaded.

Clark knew she was right. Lex couldn't be trusted. But this was a rare chance for Superman. His powers were gone…he didn't have to hold back. For the first time in his life, he could strike without endangering people, he was mortal, practically human now and Lex Luthor was waiting to fight. Clark remembered what both Jor-El and Jonathon Kent had told him about revenge, he knew it was wrong…but in this case he was ready to make an exception…his opponent was Lex Luthor and Clark had a score to settle.

"Alright Luthor…you're on. It's time we finish this once and for all."

Superman charged at Luthor, knocking him to the ground, falling after him. Kal-El's fist met with Luthor's head, again and again, before Lex managed to push him off, kicking out. Both of them rose to their feet, throwing punches, dodging and weaving, two bitter enemies fighting for supremacy.

Both men swung, landing blows, Superman landed a shot to Lex's ribs, making him cry out before he retaliated with a devastating right hook, knocking Superman off his feet.

"Come on get up...I said GET UP!!!" Lex spat in Superman's face. "You have no idea how much I hate you, how much I loathe everything you stand for...you alien freak. Every time I thought I'd won…you'd come back…well no more. Today you die."

Superman got to his feet, blocking an attack from his opponent before striking out with a powerful jab, cutting Luthor above the eye. On and on it went, both men fighting, both determined to emerge victorious...Lex landed a powerful blow, blood started streaming down over Superman's face and down onto his suit. The once bright blue fabric now diluted in red, the great symbol of hope on his chest, now covered in the blood of a god. Both men, battered and bruised, still found the will to fight on.

Eventually Lex got his enemy onto his back, wrapping his hands around Superman's throat, squeezing the life out of him. He whispered in Kal-El's ear.

"Don't worry Superman, if there's an afterlife, you won't be alone...Lois will soon be there with you."

Clark glanced over at Lois, the love of his life, then back to Lex...rage consumed him. Adrenalin was pumped through his body, as he managed to break Luthor's grip on his neck, and get up…dodging a desperate swing from Luthor's fist. Superman, blinded by anger, struck a powerful punch, then another, and another...Lex stumbled backwards, his legs shaking in fear as Superman hit him again and again. Lex fell to the ground, with Kal-El still punching and now kicking him, ignoring Luthor's pleas for mercy.

Lois, afraid that the pain Luthor had caused, the anger that had built up inside Clark for so long would make him go too far, begged Superman to stop. Hearing her voice, Kal-El looked down at his enemy, realising he couldn't kill him, it would go against everything he stood for.

"You're not worth it Luthor…you're going to jail." He threw Lex down and turned, walking to Lois, looking into her eyes lovingly.

"Are you alright?"

Lois looked back and smiled…"I am now." She smiled and hit him playfully. "Don't you dare scare me like that again."

Lex was on the floor, muttering to himself, pulling a gun from the inside of his jacket and pointing it at Clark. Spotting it, Lois pushed Clark out of the way just as Luthor was about to shoot, the bullet narrowly missing both of them.

Superman rushed at Luthor, trying to grab the gun away from his enemy. They struggled, both men trying to gain control and grab the gun for themselves as Lois looked on, slowly making her way towards the control panel.

Lex kicked out at Clark's leg, forcing him to lose his balance and release his hold on the gun. By the time he regained his composure and stood up, Superman was staring down the barrel of the gun as a mortal. If he got shot, he would be hurt, or even die, just like an ordinary man.

"Luthor you poisonous snake…what happened to fighting fair?"

"Life isn't fair Mr. Kent…neither am I."

Lex aimed the gun, smiling as he prepared to fire. He had waited his whole life for this moment and he was going to enjoy every second of it. Noticing some movement out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lois at one of the control panels, talking to herself.

"…please let this one be right…" Lois activated one of the crystal switches and almost immediately the entire Fortress began to shake. The ceiling of ice began to crack and break apart as the entire Fortress of Solitude began rising to the surface.

"What have you done?" Lex was furious…he asked the question but he already knew the answer. He was blinded for a moment as the Fortress was bathed in sunlight. Solar energy entered the structure, rebounding off the crystal walls and connecting with Superman. As Clark absorbed the solar energy, Lex realised that he had lost his chance to kill Superman…that didn't mean he couldn't have his revenge though.

"I know you're powers are returning Superman, but I will destroy you, maybe not your body…but your heart…Let's see if you really are faster than a speeding bullet…"

Suddenly, Lex turned, aiming the gun at Lois…he fired.

Superman, his powers slowly returning, became a blur, dashing across the room to reach Lois, barely managing to get there he caught the incoming bullet. Lex fired again. Thinking quickly, Superman flicked the first bullet from his hand, intercepting the second bullet. The impact altered the course of the second bullet away from Lois while sending the first on a collision course with Lex…penetrating his skull and piercing his brain.

"I lose…" Lex Luthor uttered his final words before falling to the ground, dead. Superman however, checked his pulse and used his x-ray vision to scan Luthor's body anyway, determined to save him if it was at all possible. But it was too late, Lex was gone. Turning away from his enemy's dead body, Superman looked at Lois.

"It's over. Finally…But…how…how did you know…"

"…What…how to bring the Fortress to the surface? Your cousin showed me the first time I came here…I'm just glad I remembered which button to press."

They laughed, sharing a moment. Kal-El, feeling his strength returning, his body, bruised, bloodied and broken but now rejuvenated from exposure to the healing rays of the sun.

Holding Lois in his arms, Superman flew out of the Fortress and onto the ice, letting the sun shine down on them both. They slid for a moment, before coming to a gentle stop. Reaching back into his cape, Clark took out a small box, holding Lois' hand as he went down on one knee.

"Lois…I know this isn't the best time to do this…I had these amazing plans…I was going to fly you to the top of the world and shout…I LOVE LOIS LANE…so that everyone could hear me. But after today…it didn't go as planned but it doesn't matter because I just wanna be your husband. It doesn't matter if I ask you here, or on top of Mount Everest or in the Bahamas…the question will be the same."

Lois stared down at Superman, confused…then it suddenly dawned on her as Clark opened the box to reveal a diamond ring. Suddenly, it didn't matter that her life had been threatened by Luthor, it didn't matter that the day had been saved again. All that mattered was that she was with the man she loved. A tear rolled down her cheek as she looked into Clark's eyes as he continued to speak.

"Lois…as Clark, I have been by you side been friend, shoulder to cry on…and I have loved you. As Superman, I have save your life, shown you the world…and I have loved you. I thought I was here for a reason…to protect and save the world…but there's something more. I am destined to be Superman…just as I am destined to love you…Lois, Will you marry me?"

Lois was lost for words. She stared down at Clark for a moment, then behind him at the Fortress of Solitude. Whatever answer she gave, her life would be changed forever. As she thought about everything that happened to her, she began to smile.

"Did you practice that speech?" Lois asked, amused as Clark looked at her nervously.

"Well…yeah…kinda…well the second half of it…so are you gonna answer?"

"I dunno…can you go do something for a while?" Lois responded, unable to hide the grin as she teased Clark, watching as he became even more nervous.

"Sure…I'll go free Zod from the Phantom Zone, we'll have a good fight and I'll check back in an hour. Will that do?" Clark replied, still nervous but realising that Lois was teasing him.

"Yes…"

"Hold on…you actually want me to go fight Zod?"

"No…I mean…YES…"

"Yes…you'll marry me?" Clark asked, now slightly confused.

"Yeah Smallville…"

"Well why didn't you say so?"

"Well…I had to know…you're Superman and it wouldn't be much of a marriage if I couldn't make my husband sweat now would it…especially since you wear the tights in this relationship."

Clark laughed, relieved as he placed the ring on Lois' finger, then standing up and kissing her. They rose into the air as they kissed, their troubles forgotten as they thought about their lives together. When they landed again, they were inside the Fortress of Solitude.

"So what now?" Lois asked as she watched Clark pick up Lex's lifeless body.

"I'll take Luthor's body back to Metropolis. The police are going to want to ask me some questions but I won't be long. Then we'll go back to Smallville and check on my Mom and tell her the news."

"You should probably think about getting a security system installed in this place as well…anyone could just walk in otherwise." Lois responded, watching as Clark smiled at her before flying out of the Fortress back to Metropolis with the body of Lex Luthor.

Walking to a control panel, Lois activated the main holographic screen, sitting back and flicking through T.V. channels from all over the world as she thought about her future and smiled.

Space:

High above the planet Thurzon, on a ship, hidden from the eyes and instruments of the people on planet, a being watched transmissions from Earth, picking up communications feeds that showed Superman stopping a nuclear missile from exploding over the city of Los Angeles.

A smaller, less menacing-looking being entered the room, bowing before his master, obviously afraid of suffering his master's wrath.

"My lord, Thurzon has been completely conquered…their spirits have been broken…they now serve you."

"Gather their strongest warriors Desaad and assemble the fleet. It is time we paid a visit to Kal-El…he is finally ready to serve me."

"He will not go willingly Master…"

"None ever do…but rest assured, Kal-El of Krypton will be my instrument…he will conquer these humans in my name."

"Yes…my lord Darkseid…"

The being who proclaimed himself a god…and few doubted that claim, sat back on his throne, relishing the prospect of confronting the Last Son of Krypton.

"Set a course…for Earth."

Smallville:

"You think you can marry my son?" Martha screamed angrily at Lois. "Not a chance…Clark is old fashioned…he won't even consider getting married unless I approve of his bride. You're stubborn, hot-headed…I like you…my son needs a strong woman to keep him grounded." Martha's expression had suddenly changed from anger to amusement as she and Lois began to laugh, while Clark breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh don't worry," Lois responded in between fits of laughter, "I'm well capable of keeping his feet on the ground…I'll just have to clip his wings."

Even Doomsday hadn't left Clark this nervous. He found himself backing away slowly from the two most important women in his life, wondering if he should fly away before they got their claws into him. The mood changed slightly though as Martha looked around the farm, now pretty much destroyed.

"I can't believe it's all gone…"

"Don't worry Mom, we'll rebuild it…every square inch."

"But Clark…do you know how much that costs? I'd be better off just selling the land and renting an apartment. I just can't afford to get this place going again."

"You forget Mom…you've got a one-man construction crew as a son…I'll have this place up and running again in no time."

Martha hugged her son, and then hugged Lois too. It seemed like the end of an era, but the beginning of something new. As Martha looked around the farm, she didn't see destruction, she saw new possibilities…plus she had a wedding to plan. She knew that Lois would be too busy to do it on her own and Clark…well Clark wasn't much for picking out dresses.

As Martha drove off with Lana Lang to stay with her while Clark rebuilt the house, Lois watched as the man she loved changed his clothes, becoming Superman in the blink of an eye. Picking her up, Superman flew with Lois back towards Metropolis, unsure of what the future held for them, but not worried. Whatever troubles lay ahead, they would face them together.