Disclaimer: DC Comics/Warner Brothers owns these characters. No profit is being made from this story. This is strictly for my own amusement.
Author's Notes: In this next chapter, after the events of this day, lives will never be the same. This chapter will end the first Act. Please read and review. Thanks, everyone! :D
~o~o~
Chapter 9: In Your Eyes
Still at Lois' apartment:
The next morning, Lois was in the kitchen getting coffee while Clark was about to head over to the tower when he turned on the television.
Emergency frequencies were broadcasting to the masses telling everyone to stay in their homes because a huge monster was rampaging through the countryside killing anything that walked no matter if it were on two legs or four.
"Clark, I just turned on the radio and something is happening," Lois said as she came into the bedroom, but Clark was gone.
~o~o~
Earlier that morning, inside the hidden mine:
One half mile down from the surface of the mine was the three genetic research scientists and several other assistants familiar with the 'Doomsday Project.'" They were only following orders. It was hot as hades down there and even though both Luthors were deceased, the money still flowed into their pockets from hidden accounts off-shore, so they continued with the Luthor schemes with no idea what the outcome would be.
One of the scientists, Dr. Alan Bennett, checked his notes and according to the Luthors, Kryptonian artifacts and various facts and other conclusions drawn from those sources, what they were building would be ready to mature very soon now.
"What the heck is in there anyway?" One of the assistants named Janice asked.
"Just do your job and don't ask questions," Dr. Bennett replied.
Hidden behind the high wall with a massive door made of twelve-inch steel-enforced barriers was a monster formed from ancient Kryptonian historical data and formulas. The Luthors stole these ancient formulas from Jor-El. The monster had died many times and brought back to life. All during this process, he had gained a link to Kryptonians, meaning Clark, and so he sought him out during this mindless rampage. He had no remorse, only a blood lust for all living things in his sight.
~o~o~
Early morning, the tower in Metropolis:
"Why isn't he answering?" Bruce asked anyone who would listen. The news stories were clear. There was a murdering monster criss-crossing across the entire area killing at will.
"He must have gone to the mine." Carter said. "It all makes sense … the mine, the kryptonite stash, the monster and all of those experiments at the lab. We have to go … NOW!"
Carter flew over, Shiera decided to stay at the tower and watch what was happening in the surrounding area as well as in the city. While Bruce and Cyborg left with the Batmobile which was stored in the lower ground levels of the tower, Wally sprinted ahead of them.
Wally was the first to arrive at the mine. The entire area was a complete disaster. Minutes later, the others showed up. "He's not here," he told his anxious friends as they arrived minutes later.
"We need to see what's down there." Bruce said. "I'll go first."
The cautiously followed him. The kryptonite stash was clearly marked, each with their own sign. Unfortunately, the largest stash were green and gold. They were expecting this but seeing it clearly spelled it out for them. Clark was completely vulnerable so all of it had to be destroyed.
"Lois was right about all of it. This entire mine should be blown sky high," Carter said as surveyed the countless lead boxes of the deadly mineral rock.
"I agree," Bruce concurred.
Minutes later, they spotted an elevator to the lower level. "It's hard to say how far down this goes, but we have to check this out," Carter said unnecessarily.
"It doesn't look too safe," Wally commented.
"Come on, we have to do this for Clark," Carter said. "Still no word from him?"
"No nothing yet," Bruce replied.
Carter was truly worried now. He called Shiera at the tower. "What's happening?"
"The military just arrived in the city a little while ago, but still no word from Clark and they're still searching for the monster."
"I see. Keep us informed and if you hear from Clark, let us know." He hung up.
Once the slow-moving elevator had stopped, they saw a gaping hole in the far wall leading outside. Apparently, whatever had been down there, had clawed its way out of the mine and exited out into the surrounding area.
Carter spotted the bodies first. "They're all dead."
"The Luthor scientists; I wondered where they had gone," Wally said.
"We have to contact the authorities. Someone should stay here and tell them what happened."
"I'm sure they'll be busy with that monster as well. We have to find Clark and help him somehow. I have no idea how, but we have to try. He would do the same for us," Carter said.
"I'll stay here," Cyborg said. "I'll check out the rest of this place. Make sure we won't have any more surprises."
"Good idea. Let's go!" Bruce commanded as they all headed out, not sure what they would find or how to stop the monster.
~o~o~
Meanwhile, in Smallville at the Kent farm:
In their bedroom, Jonathan lying beside his sleeping wife was on cloud nine. Martha had stayed the night and later this morning, she would be letting go of her apartment and moving back to the farm. His dreams were finally coming true. Smiling, he leaned over and kissed her awake just as he use to do.
Martha yawned and smiled at her husband. "Good morning."
"Good morning," he whispered. "Are you alright, I mean, I know it's been awhile."
"I'm fine," she replied and tried not to blush.
"Martha Clark Kent, are you blushing?" He asked and smiled.
"Only a little," she replied returning his smile. "Jonathan?"
"What is it?" He stroked her hair.
"It's good to be home."
Still smiling, he whispered. "I agree." He stroked her hair. "How about you stay in bed this morning? I'll head out, do a few chores and then I'll fix breakfast for you … in bed," he whispered with a flirtatious smile.
She smiled at his teasing. "I like the sound of that, but please don't do too much."
"I'm fine Martha. I've never felt better," he whispered and kissed her cheek.
She was still worried, so she sat up and grabbed his arm. "Jonathan, I know you've pushed yourself to make this place work, but you don't have to do it alone. Clark is here now and he can help you."
He sighed. "Clark has a life away from this place and that's Ok." He looked around their bedroom. "But this place, this is ours. It's always been that way and it always will be."
She touched his cheek, but she couldn't discourage him. "Just be careful and if you feel tired … or …"
He stopped her by kissing her sweetly. "I will, I promise." He paused. "I love you, Martha," he whispered and pulled her close.
"I love you too." Martha closed her eyes and tried to hold back her tears of happiness.
He headed into the bathroom, got dressed and headed out to the back pasture to finish up a bit of planting.
~o~o~
Back at Lois' apartment in Metropolis:
Clark was gone and he wasn't answering his cellphone. Lois immediately put down both cups of coffee and picked up her cellphone with hand tuned up the volume with the other. Still holding her cellphone she reached Jimmy who had just entered the office along with most of the staff.
"Jimmy, where are you? What's happening?"
"Miss Lane, I thought you would be at the office by now. For the past hour, the news wires are going crazy with stories coming in about an unstoppable monster roaming the countryside killing anything that moves."
"Oh, my goodness, meet me downstairs in ten minutes. I'm on my way, and Jimmy, make sure you have plenty of film."
She hung up, got dressed in record time, grabbed her bag and headed out. Ten minutes later, Jimmy was waiting for her in front of the Planet offices. "Jump in!"
"Where are we going?" Jimmy was anxious and knowing Ms. Lane she wanted to be close to the action which meant coming within throwing distance of the monster. Jimmy started to pray.
She didn't answer him but dialed her Father. Pulling away from the curb and attaching her phone to the hands-free device, he answered her call. "Daddy, what can you tell me?"
"Lois!?"
"Yes, Daddy, it's me. Where are you?"
"I'm just outside of town. Still no sign of the monster, but I have seen Superman and a few of his friends in the skies. Wait, I can hear the Air Force jets now. They'll spot him then bring him down."
Lois only heard one word. "Superman is there? Give me your coordinants now." She handed Jimmy her phone. "Punch in these numbers, Jimmy. Go ahead Dad."
Once she had the coordinants, she floored it! The city wasn't exactly chaotic. Most people had remained in their homes, but there was always a few people out on the street hoping to get a glimpse of the monster or even the superheroes reported to be seen in the area.
Then suddenly, she heard bombs, weapons firing and screams in the distance. "We're close. Hang on Jimmy!"
He tightened his seat belt when Lois made a sharp turn and almost ran directly into the monster. He was on the middle of the street and Superman and his friends were doing what they could to slow him down, but he was swatting them away like flies.
They got out of the car and watched the distressing scene. Lois suddenly got a horrible feeling in her stomach. "Jimmy, pictures, pictures!"
Jimmy, transfixed by the scene, pulled out his camera from the car and took photographs, shot after shot continuously.
Superman and his friends were losing the battle. The monster appeared stronger instead of weaker, but he had to stop him. Clark meanwhile could feel his strength begin to fail him.
But he fought on and on. He used his freeze breath, heat vision, and his super strength, but noting was slowing him down. The monster broke free of freeze breath, shrugged off the heat and tackled Clark to the ground. He got up and ran toward him and they both flew across the street and landed inside a wall. Clark pounded him with his fists to his face, his stomach and back to his face again.
Nothing appeared to stop him. The monster picked him up and threw him across the other side of the street. Clark landed with the sickening thud. The monster came after him, picked him up again and pounded him into the ground. His foot rose up and then he kicked Clark in the chest and head over and over again.
The monster picked him up again and Clark had no resistance to him. He threw him again and he landed inside a train station. The commuter train lights fascinated the monster. Clark raised his aching head and realized what was happening. He managed to pull himself up and stopped the monster from derailing the train by pushing against the wall. The monster was not happy about that as he pushed Clark's head toward the train and Clark endured the speeding train, his head bobbing with the impact of the passing train. Barely conscious, Clark had no resistance to him.
Once the train had passed, they fought then Clark fell to the ground then blood poured from his mouth.
Doomsday picked him up again and threw him up onto the main street and he landed not far from Lois. She ran to him, knelt beside him and stroked his hair. Lois didn't speak but her eyes told him to stop. Tears blinded her. "No more, please, no more."
"This is … why … I'm … here." He tried to raise his hand to touch her cheek.
Temporarily distracted, the monster heard a noise and saw a small creature coming toward him, and her cheeks were wet.
"NOOOOOOO!" Clark screamed. He ran as fast as he could, picked the monster up and flew him up into the sky until his lungs felt on fire. Just a little further, he thought.
Lois' tears fell freely now. She watched the sky until she couldn't see him anymore. "There he is!" Everyone turned and pointed to the streak of light speeding towards them.
Clark was pushing himself to fly faster even beyond what he could imagined in the past. He entered the Earth's atmosphere then he could see the tall buildings of Metropolis. Suddenly, the ground came into his vision, he closed his eyes and he hit the ground with so much force that the ground split apart, dust and smoke flew out from the crash and then there was silence.
Lois and Jimmy ran to the spot. Tears were flowing down her cheeks now. Jimmy's camera never stopped. And then she saw him. His coat was gone, torn and flapping in the wind not far away, his shirt ripped, blood flowed down his arms and the sides of his face was a mask of blood and sweat but he was alive.
Lois ran to him and then she caught him. She cradled him in her arms. "You did it."
"He's dead?"
"Yes, you saved us."
"I'm glad."
"Clark … I love you," Lois whispered kissing his forehead.
Clark closed his eyes, at peace. "I … love … you." And then he closed his eyes … forever.
All you could hear now were Lois' cries of pain and grief. They resonated throughout the quiet street, and she was not the only one.
Jimmy couldn't see past his tears.
The little girl had found her Mother and was holding her close. "He saved me, Mama."
"Yes, yes he did, sweetheart … yes he did."
Clark's friends slowly moved forward each clutching their wounds and wondered again how they could have stopped him.
But no, it was Clark's destiny to fight the monster, but no one thought for a moment that he would die.
~o~o~
The fight could not have lasted more than fifteen minutes, but Martha could not tear her eyes away from the television. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She had called and called for her husband but he never answered her. She had to find him.
Running out past the barn and out into the fields where the new planting was just coming up from the ground, she saw him. "Jonathan, Jonathan!" Lying on the ground, he was clutching his chest and sweat was pouring from his body.
She dropped to the ground. "Jonathan!? Oh, God!"
"Mar … tha?"
~o~o~
Meanwhile in the other mirror universe:
Clark Kent had just come home from an emergency and he was in the den when he got the strangest sensation but he knew exactly what it was. He remembered the feeling from before, but it was somehow different, like he had to touch it or he would regret it somehow. The feeling was so strong.
He opened the box, picked up the mirror device and the images that materialized before him would last for a lifetime. Doomsday lay dead but Clark Luthor was also dead and his Father …"
"Lois! Lois! Come quick."
"Clark, what is it?"
"Look, look!" He pointed to the images above their heads.
"OMG! What happened?"
"Doomsday. I have to help them."
"Clark, but you can't go back there. There is no other mirror device. How will you get back?"
"Jor-El will help me. I'm sure of it."
"But Clark Luthor is dead, how can you help him? And Mr. Kent, he's …."
"I have to help them. I have to do this."
Sighing, she took his hand. "I understand, Clark, I do."
"I knew you would." He touched her cheek softly, leaned down and kissed her sweetly. "I'll see you soon." She squeezed his hand.
He then dropped her hand, twirled into the suit, activated the device, and then he was gone.
Lois caught the device before it could hit the floor and break into a thousand pieces. Holding it close to her chest, she headed back to the living room and decided to call Martha.
End of Act I: Redemption
TBC!
~o~o~
Song Inspiration: Without You, Mariah Carey.
A/N: I'm so sorry to end it there, but I felt that Clark had to die so as to redeem him in the eyes of Metropolis. *sniffles* I'll let you guys think on what's to come. You have two weeks, then I'll be back with another chapter to begin the second Act. Reviews are love. Thanks for reading, everyone.