"Death Denied" Part (4 of 4)

by Rob T.

Hub City Harbor

Q: I don't know how I missed this. I suppose I wasn't asking all the right questions. Of course, they wouldn't go to Metropolis- that's the boy scout's turf. Central City would be stopped in a "flash " , and Gotham would bring nothing but pain. They needed a city where they had a chance at success. So they picked mine. Now I've got the world's most powerful vacuum bomb, with the shockwave equal to a nuclear bomb. Even from the harbor, it will level miles of Hub before anyone of the big boys, could get here. It's up to me. I knock out the moron, and head for the speed boat I spot. quickly striking down the opposition I'd previously dealt with.

The boat speeds toward the freighter, pushed beyond it's manufactured limits. The Question hops on board, tying off the speedster. He manuevers through armed, suicidal men to get to the bomb. There's no way for him to get the freighter away from Hub City, in time. But if he can sink the freighter, the ocean itself, will muffle the shockwaves of the foab. First, he locks the freighter toward open waters- any distance is better than none. Then he sabotages the steering to prevent a return toward Hub City.

Q: Ok, gotta sink this tub. Good thing assclowns like these always carry more weaponry than they need. Three grenades & C4. That should do it. This tub needs to go down fast. Need to open up the cargo bay enough for the ocean to quickly fill.

And than I'm hit from behind. A 6'3", no neck stack of muscle, decides I need to die right now. I've got no time for this, and I'm fresh out of mercy ( He says as he jams an unpinned grenade in big man's mouth, and kicks him into just the right spot, to begin this freighter's demise… KABLAMMM!) Alright, I now with those planted, I got about 15 seconds to avoid dying… again.

The Question dives through the opening in the bay, and cuts the rope of the speedster, and let's it drag him as far as it can until…

BOOOOOOM!

The explosion, though muffled under the Atlantic creates a decent sized wall of water, that I'm helplessly trapped in. And then, I'm not. I'm on the pier in the Hub City Harbor, and then I see it… a blue and red streak across the sky, somehow creating enough of a sonic boom to dissipate the wave in it's entirety. He must have heard the explosion, even though it was submerged, and got here just in time to stop the collateral damage.

I didn't even get to say thanks.

Well, he's got that hearing so, "Thanks".

Next Day.. KBEL

Clara: This K.B.E.L. Nightly News reporting on the latest save of the hero we all know- Superman. Who not only stopped terrorsts, but a tsunami from wiping out Hub City. No one knows, how he knew this city was in danger, but we're glad he did… (Ezra turns down the sound).

Ezra: Look at that. The Planet's not gonna touch us this month. Terrorists

and Superman. Vic, I don't know how you do it but I'm glad you're doing it for

me.

Vic: All in the job description, Ezra. I need a little down time, though. If you don't mind.

Ezra: Take what you, Vic.

In the Questions Lair...

Vic: I need time to take this all in. Body's a conundrum of aches & pains. But other than that, I got alot of information to add to the board…

We see a somewhat, confusing mosaic of a board filled with notes, picture,stick pins & string, newspaper & magazine articles, and verified evidence.

I'm clearly not completely human, but even more, with the uncovering of Shiva's connection and my own fragmented memory reawakening, I understand now that I can't actually die. That's hard to swallow.

Who am I? What am I?

I will have answers to these questions, no matter how long it takes.

CONCLUDED

EPILOGUE

A Shadowy Figure Speaks: So, you are still alive. I had no doubt you would be. But I have found you, even in that ridiculous "get-up" you've donned. And thus, my promise is renewed. I will kill you. For there's only room on this world,,,

Vandal Savage: For one immortal.

The BEGINNING...