ISSUE 15:
The Gotham shopping district was busy for a Wednesday, particularly as half the city was in debt anyway. Ryan had bought half the clothes he needed or had back at his apartment before; Kal-El/Clark Kent was his main issue.
Since he'd left the base, Clark's shoulders, chest and muscle mass had doubled in size and anytime they found something that suited him, it was nearly ripped off his body. Luckily they had Bruce's credit card so he could pay for everything and not have to worry about the cost.
Clark came out of the booth wearing a pale blue suit shirt, charcoal grey suit trousers, a purple tie and a pair of black loafers. He looked completely different than he did at the base but he needed something more, clothes and a different demeanour were all good but people would recognise him easily.
Ryan had a mask which he wore to protect himself and to scare criminals. But Superman, he didn't need to be scary because his raw strength did that for him. Clark Kent needed to be the mask, something that he could wear to blend in. He needed something else, Ryan eyes moved across the shop and found what he needed.
"What do you think?" Clark asked with a smile.
"It's good, we've certainly found Clark's signature look but you need something else," Ryan stopped mid sentence and made his way to a long rack filled with spectacles. "I think Clark Kent needs his own mask."
Ryan selected off a pair of large, thin framed, circular spectacles and held them aloft. "These should do."
"But I don't need vision aids," Clark replied. He moved in closer and lowered his voice. "After all I do have microscopic vision and I learnt about an hour ago that I can see through walls and believe me, that's quite a fun power."
Ryan suddenly caught on. "Dude, you can't do that. And...that makes you a peep and a pervert; just don't do it you outer space sicko."
The two laughed and Ryan handed the glasses over to him. Clark held it as gently as he could, he had torn open the curtain of the changing booth earlier without meaning to; his new found strength was quite a burden, and slid then onto his face.
It almost made him smile at how different he looked. "Hunch your shoulders," Ryan told him. "With your strength I'm sure you won't damage yourself."
Clark hunched his shoulders and the disguise was complete.
"We've found Clark Kent," Ryan replied with a smile. "All we need now is a few more sets of suits, a spare pair of glasses and we can go."
Ryan found he never liked shopping but shopping for an alien was more fun than he thought. After spending at least over $10,000, which old Mr Wayne could afford, they left the shopping area and went back to the Valet section.
Ryan had donned a pair of black sunglasses as his 'disguise' in case anyone in the force happened to recognise him; even with the hair change, after all he had gone off the grid.
The Valet brought the black 2013 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 round and handed over the keys. Bruce had at least 15 cars and all of them were amazing; though Ryan had selected the one nearest to the door which happened to be the Veyron.
Ryan had about five bags which three were his own and the rest he had given to the super strength and invulnerable alien who he had with him. They loaded them into the trunk and then jumped into the front.
Ryan gunned the engines and tore down the road. He watched as Clark fumbled in the passenger seat, feeling slightly enclosed.
"Are you okay?" Ryan asked.
"I just feel that being in the car is kind of pointless," Clark replied. "I now know that I can fly and run probably faster than this car. So why would I sit in this and take the long way?"
"Because it's the right way," Ryan replied as he turned down a city street, avoiding a drunk homeless man.
Suddenly Clark grabbed his ears and Ryan slammed on the brakes. "Are you okay?"
"I can hear a whining noise," he moaned. "It's so loud!"
"Just cut it off," Ryan told him. "Just shut it off and listen to my voice. Let my voice fill your head; let my voice become your whole world."
Clark's wincing slowly stopped and he looked at Ryan. "Thanks."
"Now about that siren," Ryan began. "Could you find it?"
"I think so," Clark told him.
"Well let's suit up," Ryan told him, reaching into the back seat and producing two black duffle bags.
"Come on let's go!" screamed Rick above the sirens. "We have to get going!" He adjusted his motorcycle helmet on his head and moved the metal suit case about in his gloved hand.
"Don't worry mate," a British voice shouted from inside the jewellery store. "Time isn't a restriction for me."
The cockney British man ran his hand through his purple hair and grinned with bright white teeth. "Let 'em come," he grinned. His long black jacket and trousers contrasted with his colourful Union Jack t-shirt.
Multiple men moved across the jewellery store, picking up as much money and jewels as they could stuff into their metallic suitcases.
"But Manchester!" shouted Rick. "The Police will kill us!"
"Na they won't mate," the Union Jack man replied. "Not when I can stop bullets."
The gang of eight men finished their collection and hurriedly moved out, all cocking their automatic pistols. Black Manchester, their fearless British leader, followed behind them with a cocky swagger.
They made their way onto the streets when they didn't see the Police, they just saw a large muscular man wearing a red cape and blue body suit. But the weird thing about him was that he was hovering off the ground.
"Stop right there!" the man shouted at them.
Black Manchester swaggered through his group of armed men and into the front. "And who the fuck are you supposed to be?"
"I'm Superman," the man announced, touching down onto the ground. "And I'm here to stop you!"
"Really?" Black Manchester grinned. "'Cos that ain't 'appening."
Superman turned into a blue and red blur as he ran at super speed towards the group of criminals. The group began to step back but Black Manchester just splayed his hand. A green shield formed and Superman smacked into it; hard.
Superman bounced off the barrier and smacked into the far building; cracking the brick wall. Superman shook his head, he'd never really been in a fight before but he had learnt a few Kryptonian martial arts in the knowledge download earlier which he thought he could use.
He stepped closer to Black Manchester who dissipated the barrier with a grin.
"Can't 'urt what you can't touch now can you?" Black Manchester grinned at the large blue man who could move impossibly fast.
"How about you lower than barrier and we settle this properly," Superman suggested.
"'Ow 'bout no," Black smiled at him. "'Ow 'bout I beat the crap out of you and you then leave me alone."
Before Superman could come up with a retort; Black Manchester flicked his hand and smacked him with a psychic attack. Superman went flying down the street, skidding along the ground and nearly smacking into an oncoming car.
Superman stopped himself by flying into the air and watching Black Manchester and biker helmet gang on the ground below.
"Are you okay?" Nightwing asked. Superman pressed the ear piece which Nightwing had given him earlier in the car.
"Yes I'm fine though I'm struggling not to fry these guys," Superman said into the ear piece.
"Just keep going," Nightwing said. "Keep him focused on you, the Bat has already told me he'll be here soon and then we'll take him out from behind."
"You're just using me as an indestructible distraction," Superman smiled as he lowered himself to the ground.
"More like a punching bag that won't break under the psychic strikes," Nightwing replied.
Superman almost laughed at the quip, pressed the ear piece and slowly walked towards the band of men with powerful steps which nearly cracked the tarmac under his dark red boots.
"Don't do that again or you might just make me mad," Superman told him.
"And I wouldn't wanna do that now would I?" joked Black Manchester.
Manchester flicked his hand again, sending another psychic blast but this time the Kryptonian was ready. The strike hit him but simply tousled over his wavy black hair and shook his cape.
"I told you not to do that," Superman said through gritted teeth, trying to keep his growing temper in check.
He sighed but accidentally opened his mouth and blew a massive gust of wind at Black Manchester and his armed cohorts. The air built up and ploughed them down, sending them all onto their backs.
Superman smiled at this whole new power he'd discovered. Black Manchester rose to his feet first and flashed Superman an equally white grin.
"That wasn't a good move mate." Black Manchester turned to a deserted car and picked it up with his telekinesis. In one swift arm movement, he slammed the car into the alien with bone crushing force.
Superman flew sideways and smacked into the glass front of one of the shops. He groaned as he hit the marble flooring of the shop. He pushed the automobile off him and got to his feet. He dragged the car out of the shop and onto the street. He laid on the ground and turned back to Black Manchester.
"You neva give up do ya mate!" smirked Manchester. "Oh well more fun for me."
"Not really," Superman replied, looking behind him.
The Bat stood right behind Black Manchester with a needle in hand while Nightwing was making his way through Black Manchester's men with ease. He stabbed Black Manchester in the neck and the Brit collapsed to his knees.
"What is that?" he asked worriedly.
"A brain numbing drug," the Bat grumbled. "It cuts off your psychic powers."
"Oh fuck no!" Black Manchester screamed.
Nightwing finished off the last man with a smack of the baton and then back flipped over to the nullified British criminal. He switched his baton to a taser and jabbed him in the neck.
Electricity coursed through him and Black Manchester collapsed to the ground. Nightwing pushed the batons back into his gauntlets and looked at Superman who stood in the street, completely unscathed.
"Are you okay?" Nightwing asked the Kryptonian as the Bat tied the Saline bag filled with the brain numbing bag to Black Manchester and cuffed his hands behind his back.
"Yeah I'm fine," Superman replied with a smile. "That was fun."
"You really took a beating there."
"It was nothing, I think I could take even more."
"You probably could," the Bat said, moving on to cuff the rest of the criminals who were lying out cold on the ground. "We could test it if you want."
"Test?" Superman asked. "I'll pass thanks. But I wouldn't mind testing out how long I can sleep for."
Nightwing smiled. "I'm sure we have a bed back at the Mansion."
"Yes we do," the Bat replied. "You're obliged to take it."
"Does that mean I can learn your real identity?"
"Later," the Bat replied. "For now let's get back to the Cave, I need to do some research into Luthor Corp."
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Superman's first outing as a hero and honestly I'm pretty pleased with what I've written, though I have literally just finished it after posting, and am looking forward to more action with the trio and maybe even Krypto getting in on the action. I hope you like the story and Issue 16 will be coming soon. And as always, a review would be appreciated (even though I haven't got angry yet |) that was an angry face btw.