(Originally written for the Wednesday100 topic "Anything to do with time". This drabble is respectfully dedicated to mobiusklein.)
At Lex Luthor's inauguration, red rain fell from a cloudless sky. Within a week, Washington was a ghost-town; America lasted a month longer; every human perished within the year.
Superman took five years to figure out what had happened, and another decade to build the time-machine that might enable him to stop it.
The insects fought him every step of the way.
High-school graduation night, Superman knew where to find them. Snatching the band from Lana's head revealed her antennae, first manifestation of the Insect Queen.
"Lana!" Clark cried, but it was too late. Without the headband, Lana died.
Darn.