I do not own any DC Characters used herein, and am only employing them in a story meant for entertainment purposes only.
Man Of Steel
Original Story by LJ58 (Inspired by Twisted-Wun)
Edited and Reposted (With Permission) by LJ58
20
"Tell me you're joking," Nathaniel demanded as he faced Kal-El high in the sky over the planet. A place where no one could overhear what they were discussing since they were also out of range of any of the current spy satellites that might have detected them.
"I am sorry," Kal-El told him. "My instruments aren't wrong. I checked them twice to be sure of the findings. Your wife is already dead. The indications suggest she's been dead for a very long time. Why they preserved her as they did before your….apparent return is beyond me, but…."
"Eiling knows," Nathaniel hissed.
"What are you going to do," Kal-El asked him blandly.
"I….don't know," he admitted, hovering there on the edge of the atmosphere with clenched fists as his eyes glittered with cosmic energies that reacted to his fury. "I….just don't know."
Kal-El didn't press him.
"For what it is worth, Captain. I am sorry."
"It's not your fault, Superman," he called him somberly. "Not your fault."
Kal-El said nothing as the living energy that called itself human turned to fly back to the planet below. He did not even bother to watch him after his departure. He knew exactly where he was going. It was where he would have gone.
MoS
"I said no killing," Batman growled as he entered the basement where Huntress was sifting the equipment, some of it truly unbelievable as she considered upgrading a few of her own gadgets.
Helena smirked as she glanced over her shoulder at her some times nemesis, some times ally.
"I didn't kill a one. Most of them killed theselves with their wild shooting. Some of these popguns really do vaporize matter, by the way, so careful," she said as Batman picked up one of the devices at his feet.
"This isn't terrestrial. It's not even a modified BG-80 we've seen. It's…."
"Alien? Yeah, I got that. Prettyboy over there said they had some guy that popped in and out in some kind of fancy portal that dropped these off," she said, gesturing over her shoulder at the one conscious banger who was tied up in a corner.
The bald teen with tattoos all over his skull, and the usual piercings in unlikely places, only glared.
"So, happy?"
"I'll be happier when you put back what you pocketed," he growled, noting the pouch at her side that was heavy with scavenged gear.
"Nothing serious, Batman," she smiled, pating the pouch. "A few arrows, and miniguns that make up for the freebie I just did you. By the way, you might want to question pretty boy yourself. He said something interesting. Very interesting. Tah," she said, and headed for the door.
Batman reached for her shoulder, even as she weaved, and a smoke pellet exploded behind her.
His special lenses tracked her body heat, but he let her go. He knew where to find her. Besides, he reminded himself as he turned to the glaring teen trussed up for him. He had more important things to do just now.
"Let's you and I talk," he said in his deepest, darkest tone.
The boy actually whimpered.
Which only made Batman smile as he reached for the teen.
MoS
"Hey, wondered if you were coming back," Connor smiled.
Kal-El did not smile.
"Dr. Donovan was….reassigned. There are still those that feel he did nothing wrong in spite of Ms. Lane's efforts to expose the illicit research going on under Cadmus' auspices."
"Man, that tanks. Then they'll probably just start over somewhere else."
"Likely," the brightly clad hero nodded. "That said, it doesn't preclude us ignoring them. We will keep an eye on them."
"Sounds like a plan."
"I heard you did good work while I was away," Kal-El said as he moved to eye the stacks of books around the apartment.
Connor might be playing the role of a careless teen, but he was obviously still doing his best to learn all he could, as fast as he could. Kal-El merely nodded at the contents of some of those texts, and turned back to him to find Connor looking a little sheepish.
"You mean Steel didn't rat on me?"
"I haven't met this….Steel."
"Well, he seems okay, for the self-righteous type. Still, I did kind of have….some problems at times. Seems I'm not as much like you as I thought."
"I thought that was obvious from the tests we ran at the Fortress."
"Well, yeah. I get the whole powers thing. But…I meant the careful, super-meticulous attention to details you have going. I got careless a few times, and…."
"From what I heard, you did fine," Kal-El told him. "Even I had to learn at the beginning," he told him. "You might be surprised at how many times I had….accidents at the start while getting used to my own powers. It could be….embarrassing," he admitted somberly. "Still, you saved lives, and kept things from escalating. That is important, too. Just learn from your mistakes, and keep going. It is what we all do."
Connor nodded.
"Thanks, Kal," he said as the Kryptonian turned toward the window.
"We are brothers," he reminded him. "Feel free to call anytime you need me."
"Thanks. I, ah, better finish my homework now. Want to stay for pizza? I ordered pepperoni?"
Kal-El smiled.
"Sorry. Prior engagement."
"Your loss," Connor grinned.
"Perhaps next time," he said, and vanished out the window in a blur of superspeed.
"Man, that is so cool," Connor grinned, wishing he were that fast. He was close, he knew, but still not as fast as the original. Maybe when he grew up?
KP
"Finally," Wonder Woman complained as Batman and Superman walked into the conference room to join her and the other senior members of the League already present.
"Problems," Batman asked in his usual tone as his eyes went to the feline meta bound to a nearby chair by Diana's lasso.
"Nope," Wally smiled. "Diana's just a little irked over the menagerie we're acquiring."
"Menagerie," Kal-El frowned.
"Well, you brought the bird-chick, Supes. Then Bats brought the kitty….."
"Don'e call me Supes."
"Don't call me Bats."
"Hey, I'm no kitty, you colorblind adolescent!"
"You are so lucky Shayera didn't hear you call her that," Aquaman smirked.
Wally sighed.
"Enough," Batman growled, and deftly tugged the lasso from Catwoman, and tossed to toward Diana who simply snapped her wrist, and managed to curl up back up in the same move before attaching it to her belt.
Catwoman, who occasionally favored a whip, was genuinely impressed.
"Nice technique," she smiled at her, rising, and stretching in sensual fashion before padding over to Batman's side.
"Next time stay out of unauthorized areas," the Amazon growled. "Your….guest was trying to break into our private quarters," she told Batman curtly.
"Hey, Cats like to prowl," she smirked.
"Enough," Batman snapped again. "This meeting was called because we have a serious threat before us. One that is more dangerous than we first realized."
"Because Intergang allying with alien dictators wasn't enough?"
"No," Batman turned to glare at Wally. "It's just two sides of a very disturbing triangle."
"Go on," J'onn nodded to him, Wally shrugging, and falling silent again.
"To begin with, I brought Catwoman here to….protect her as much as question her. She has provided clues to the case before us that have hitherto eluded, or confused us. With her input, it has become obvious that Darkseid has more than one agent on Earth. He is also working with the League of Assassins. Or they…have allied with him."
"Not Ras al Ghul again," Wally complained.
Batman simply glanced at him.
"I'm just saying….."
"This actually gives us an edge," Batman told them. "We all know Ras is after nothing less than virtual genocide in his mad quest to 'save' the planet from humanity's blight. A quest that obviously fits well with this alien's ambitions at grinding the galaxy under his heel."
"And that helps how," Diana asked.
"Hey, I was going to ask the same thing," Flash agreed.
Batman shook his head.
"Intergang, for whatever else, is about criminal profit and power. There is no profit on a dead planet. Or even an enslaved one. If we can make that clear to Mannheim, we might be able to shatter their pyramid, and undo their plans before they can start the chaos Ras intends."
"That's a tall order," J'onn remarked. "Even for us. Intergang isn't likely to listen to us, let alone accept aid…."
"I have….other friends who are spreading that word through the underworld now," Batman told him. "Our immediate concern is staving off the impending attack of the gangs, and diverting any more arms' shipments to other gangs. We have to step up our efforts, and ensure the Ras' attempt to arm every gang in the nation is thwarted."
"Haven't we been doing that all along?"
"Not well enough. I acquired evidence that Apokolips is shipping weaponry directly to certain staging areas via their…..teleport technology."
"Boom tubes," Diana frowned.
"Probably. From what we learned, the New Gods and Apokolips actually have similar technological development," Kal-El nodded.
"So how do we stop that," Flash complained.
"My Fortress' sensors can be fine-tuned to detect, and locate any teleport activity across trans-spatial coordinates. With your permission," he turned to J'onn, "I'll tie in the detection grid to the Watchtower's monitor system, and we'll know when and where any future shipments appear the instant they occur."
"And we just teleport down, and bust them," Flash grinned. "Sounds like a plan."
"What with the New Gods do about Darkseid," Batman now asked Superman. "I haven't heard that part as yet. Do we have an ally?"
"An unofficial one," Kal-El admitted. "Apparently, New Genesis and Apokolips have a truce at the moment. A cease-fire, you would call it."
"So, we're still on our own," Batman grumbled.
"Not completely," Diana told him.
Batman frowned.
"I did get Highfather to agree to add Earth to his protectorate. As of now, we are officially neutral ground. Any proof we can acquire that ties Darkseid to overt attempts against Mankind, and New Genesis will step in to aid us. We just need that proof to justify their actions."
Batman glowered.
"So, we're now an intergalactic DMZ," he grumbled. "Wonderful."
"Could have been worse," Flash told him.
"It always is," Batman spat.
"We need to consider increasing our ranks considering the escalating threats," Diana told him. "How was you recruiting going?"
"I've been….busy. But, not well." He glanced at Kal-El, adding, "Apparently, Superman's distrust of our covert mandate is shared by a lot of the other independent metas I approached."
"Talk about getting bit in the…."
"Flash, please," Diana sighed.
"We can discuss that later," Kal-El said. "We need to focus on the matter before us."
"Agreed," J'onn said as he rose. "If we do not stop the powers aligning against us, the details of our charter won't matter."
"I suggest we all get to work. Catwoman, if you're ready, I have a lead on Ras' latest location. I'll be handling that end. Just as my…..other allies are busy spreading the rumors to Intergang. Even if we don't sway Mannheim, a lot of his people will hear, and I hope, listen."
"That does seem a wise course," the Martian agreed as they all stood now, the meeting breaking up. "Meanwhile, Kal-El and I will get the sensors online, and the rest of us will stand ready to manage intercepts, or if necessary, intervention if the violence does break out."
"As of now, all members are on high alert. Signal everyone, J'onn," Batman told him.
"I will."
"Let's go," Batman growled at Catwoman.
"Lord Curry," Kal-El paused to address the king of Atlantis.
"Yes, my friend," the bearded amphibious hero turned to him.
"I was wondering how Dove was doing since we delivered her to you? Any problems….?"
"She is fitting in quite well. Only she favors Lori now. You did a good thing bringing her to us. She was not meant to live on land."
"No one should have to live in captivity," Kal-El told him somberly.
"In that, we are agreed. Now, I've my own concerns to tend just now, but rest assured, I am ready to assist you all when you need me," he told him as he turned to leave with the others."
"So, how many of the genomorphs have you relocated since the media learned of Cadmus' fresh sins," J'onn asked him as they headed for the control deck.
"Not enough," Kal-El said quietly. "Not nearly enough."
MoS
"Hey, Connor, can I talk to you?"
Connor turned from shoving books into his locker, and eyed the shorter, thinner boy.
"Oh, hey. It's….Billy, right?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "Billy Batson."
"Okay, so what's up?"
"I….kind of saw you the other day."
"Saw me?"
Billy glanced around.
"Fly off," he murmured, and handed him a phone.
"What's this?"
"I…..kind of took it from Pete. Pete Tompkins? He saw you, too, and filmed you."
Connor grimaced, and snatched the phone from his hand. Thumbing through the index, he played a file marked "S," and watched himself finish changing before he flew out the bathroom window.
"What do you two want," he asked grimly as he crushed the phone in his hand.
Billy grimaced, but caught the debris, and pulled out a small memory chip.
"This is the part you want," he said, and snapped the chip in half. "Look, I don't want anything. I'm glad you're here, keeping an eye on…..bad guys on every level. But, ah, Pete? I can't say. I heard him crowing he was about to have the world at his fingertips soon after you flew away. When I realized what he intended after I saw him film you, I kind of…..stole his phone. Only I don't know if that's the only footage. I'm just tipping you off. Okay?"
Connor stared at the younger boy that had just started high school.
"You really don't want anything?"
"Not a thing. Us heroes got to stick together. Right?"
"Heroes?"
"Well, you know, heroes and their….uh, friends?"
"Right. So, as far as you know, this is it?"
"So far as I know. Just….be more careful. If the wrong people saw that…?"
"Yeah. It'd be a pain," he grumbled.
"Yeah," Billy agreed. "Uh, later, then?"
"Yeah. Later," Connor said, and headed for the exit after closing his locker.
Billy only grinned, guessing the school bully was about to have a bad day.
MoS
The girl saw the car screeching around the corner from her vantage, her eyes drawn by the sound, and the faint wail of a siren only now filling the air.
The sedan slid around, its tires catching belatedly before it roared up the block, and she realized she was staring at a six year old boy running right toward the street as he followed a rolling ball. A woman screamed from nearby, and ran for the sidewalk, but the girl knew she'd never make it, and that car wasn't slowing down.
She flew down out of the sky, planting herself in front of the car with less than a foot between her and the startled boy as her feet slammed into the pavement, stopping the car instantly with a hand shoved into the hood.
The men in the front seat went flying through the windshield, neither of them having been wearing seatbelts.
Even as they went bouncing across the pavement, cursing and yelling, a third man in the back recovered to try to reclaim a shotgun he had been holding.
"Tommy," the mother screamed as the boy stood there as the man in the backseat aimed the shotgun pointblank at the blonde, and by default, the child.
The mother watched incredulously as the air flared with crimson as the shotgun detonated, and yet nothing hit her, or her son.
She ran forward, scooped up her son, and all but dragged him back to the yard as two police cars only now sped around the corner to slide to a stop on either side of the ruined sedan.
"Freeze," one of the officers demanded as both officers jumped out to point their guns at the man in the car.
Who was watching the blonde who had just somehow snatched his shotgun from his hands, and was now crushing it into a shapeless ball.
"Now I see why my cousin wishes to be a champion," she said more to herself than not. "Some of these humans are heedless of their own kind."
"Hold it, lady," one of the cops shouted, even as she rose into the air.
She looked down, and pointed.
"You should assist the other malcontents. I suspect they were injured by their ejection from their vehicle."
Then she flew away as the little boy shouted gleefully as he pointed up at her.
"Look, momma! See! See! A superhero! I wanna fly, too!"
Kara smiled back at the boy, gave him a playful wave, and then flew off over the city as she continued her random path over the globe as she tried to understand these humans.
The police, meanwhile, were checking the two men laying on the pavement, badly battered from their sudden stop, and headlong flight.
"Bet you'll wear seatbelts next time," one of them quipped as the bank robbers just lay groaning on the ground before them.
MoS
Kal-El flashed down to his fortress, not too surprised that Kara had gone out, but simply continued to his monitor room to finish the uplink to the Watchtower.
Even as he finished hooking in the link that would allow the newly rechristened Justice League to monitor extra-dimensional transports, he saw one flash on his own monitors. He was genuinely surprised when he realized it's location.
Leaving the Fortress in a burst of super speed, he was standing outside even as the portal faded, and bulky, muscular figure in strangely configured armor stood before him.
"So. You are the Kryptonian that dares interfere with my plans," Darkseid growled. "It is time we had a talk, alien."
Continued…..