Chapter 24
Somewhere else...
It was a room full of toys. Big ones, little ones, some finished, some half-made. There was also a large movie theatre-like screen on one wall playing cartoons. Below that, silhouetted against the screen, riding in a coin-op rocket, like the rides that use to sit in front of shops, is a man wearing a smiling porcelain doll head, covering his own head completely.
"Whoohoo!" the man known as Toyman cheers wildly, like a child. If he had his way no-one would ever grow up and everyone would have fun like this forever.
Then suddenly a red light flashes on a control panel like device on the far wall and an alarm sounds.
If Toyman could show he was frowning he would be right now.
There goes his fun. Now he's going to be grouchy all day.
He hops off his ride and makes his way over to the control panel. His 3 toys, the ones he sent to retrieve Lex Luthor are destroyed. That is what this is telling him.
Oh he hates it when people destroy his toys! He hates it, hates it, hates it!
He flicks a few switches, types in a few commands and brings up the last visual records his toys broadcast before they were wrecked.
"Ah Superman," Toyman remarks in a sort of creepy Mr Rodgers sort of voice at seeing the last image of who destroyed each of his toys. "Decided to rejoin our game have we but I'm afraid once again, hero, you're playing on the wrong side. You won't stop me. Not this time," he vows. "This time Toyman wins!" he cheers childishly before giggling hysterically.
Smallville Mutant Community...
"His real name is Winslow Schott. He's a genius. Graduated from college at 18. Made some revolutionary strides forward in circuit design and robotics. He worked for a division of Luthorcorp. In the end though all he wanted to do was make toys for children but Lionel saw another use for Schott's designs. They were incorporated into new weapons. Schott didn't take that very well when he found out. Tried to take control of his technology back. In a confrontation with Lionel something caused an explosion. Everyone thought him dead but Schott actually survived though he was left physically disfigured. He ended up living in the underground levels of the ruins of the building he use to work in. Alone, scarred, mentally and physically, with only his imagination and his toys he retreated into the child-like persona of the Toyman. I met him about a year ago. There were a series of attacks on Luthorcorp properties and businesses in Bayville. It was Schott coming for his revenge on Lionel. He abducted Lionel and I was forced to save his hide...which looking back now I end up seriously doubting was the right thing to do," Superman says making a small face about it.
"It was the right thing to do," Charles insists.
Superman shrugs. They had retreated back to the farmhouse and he was telling this story to Lilandra at the Professor's request.
"It was the right thing to do," Charles repeats. "As I said to you at the time, stooping down to Lionel's level would only be self-defeating in the end. We always have to be better than that."
"Charles is correct," Lilandra says. Though she can see why you might question it considering what Lionel subsequently did but they do have to be better.
"Yeah," Superman supposes he agrees. "Well Schott wouldn't let me rescue him," he continues his story and he means rescue in saving Schott from himself. "He blew up the base we were in but no body was ever found and I never believed for a second he was really dead. I knew this day would come. The day he returned."
"And for Lex it seems," Charles mentions what he and Beast seemed to notice.
"Toyman was after Lionel for essentially misusing his technology. Since Lex bought most of Luthorcorp it could be the same thing," Superman speculates. "After all how much of that technology might have been in those armoured suits Lex was building for SHIELD?"
"So the battle in Smallville was the trigger for Toyman to re-emerge?" Beast speculates.
"Could be," Superman supposes. "Chloe's looking into it for me. Looking for attacks similar to what happened a year ago. I'll be going to help her," he says because he knows better what to look for considering his previous encounter with Toyman. In fact he would be helping right now if the Professor hadn't insisted on letting Lilandra know what was happening.
"Someone will need to warn Lex," Beast thinks.
Superman snorts. "As if he'd listen," he says derisively. Lex doesn't exactly see any of them as friends. Combined with Lex's ego Clark severely doubts Lex would take anything they say seriously.
"Still, someone must try," Charles insists because simply, no matter the issues with Lex, it is the right thing to do.
Superman pinches the bridge of his nose. "I known I'm going to regret this," he mumbles. "I'll do it," he volunteers. "But don't hold your breath for him believing me...especially after I wrecked his car."
"What?" Lilandra asks giving the tall red/blue clad hero a strange look.
"I kinda...accidentally/deliberately tossed the astronaut into Lex's car which then might have just sorta exploded."
There is silence until a snorting laughter fills the air. It's Lilandra as she covers her mouth and laughs some more...a lot more. Oh that is the funniest thing she has heard in weeks and the imagery of Lex's face as she pictures it...nope. She's not going to be able to stop herself for awhile.
Hank and Charles, while not laughing, certainly have smiles on their faces. It was funny. Inconvenient for getting any sort of traction with Lex but definitely funny. Besides it is probably only 1 of at least 50 cars Lex owns. It's not like he'll miss it or can't afford to buy a replacement.
Well as much as Clark doesn't want to do this he better get on with it. He gives his notice he's going and blurs off across the fields. Just as he is about to take to the air he stops when he is passing the old scarecrow. Amazing that's still here. If his dad is telling the truth and not embellishing then Clark's grandfather Hiram Kent made that.
Clark fingers it fondly...and as he does so a new memory flashes into his mind...
He sees...his grandfather. Clark's seen enough of the family photos to know Hiram when he sees him. He's standing right here, next to the scarecrow. It's night and he's just hit Jor-El with his rifle...which doesn't really do anything.
Jor-El snatches the gun away easily. "I don't want any trouble. I'm just cutting through your field," he says, looking to just get away.
Hiram holds his hands up. "Easy there, son. You already got one murder on your hands if you're the one the whole town's looking for."
This must be after Louise's death. What Jor-El did next.
"I didn't do it," Jor-El insists. "I'm not a killer. I loved her. I'd never hurt her. You g- you gotta trust me," he virtually pleads as if he cannot stand the idea of being thought of as Louise's killer.
The tone in Jor-El's voice seems to reach Hiram and his expression seems like he is edging towards believing, what is to him, a complete stranger. He offers his hand and introduces himself. "I'm Hiram. Hiram Kent."
Clark snaps back to the real world. He had questioned before whether Jor-El really loved Louise. From that it sounds like he did but still, Clark has his doubts. However, that's not his main priority at the moment. Neither is going to see Lex. Sorry but no. He will go but 1st he needs to talk to his parents. In fact giving it another second of thought a slight delay might work better because he suddenly also has an inkling of a plan on how to find and catch Toyman and what he needs is back at the Institute.
First though he has to talk to his parents...and that means a flight back home...but at top speed that's 15 minutes these days. He bends his knees, summoning up the power before propelling himself off the ground, taking to the air, sonic boom following in his wake.
At the Institute...
To say Martha and Jonathan were surprised to see their son would be an understatement. When he told them of why he was back...about Jor-El meeting Jonathan's father you could have knocked them over with a feather.
Always eager to help their son they dug out of storage Hiram's old chest. It had survived the destruction of the mansion last year because storage meant down in the lower levels.
Clark knew they had some of his grandfather's belongings and requested that they be dug out so he could touch them and see if it triggered any new memories.
Claire watched on with interest too. This was a family matter and she is part of this family these days. Though Smallville is still a touchy subject for her in general considering what happened there to her. Losing her foster parents, who she thought were her parents until the whole revelation Sebastian Shaw dropped on her. The meteor shower, her powers...
Despite being there for the whole Lionel thing...that day was so hectic and busy it never really sank in till much later, after they got home that she had actually been there for the 1st time since that very day of the meteor shower. Her mother hugged her silly that night down in the infirmary as Claire sobbed her heart out.
Yeah she's never telling anyone she did that and if her brother tells anyone she's killing him.
"I haven't opened this...since the day my father passed away," Jonathan mentions, deep sadness in his tone.
Martha places a supportive hand on his shoulder. She knows how much it hurt him when he lost his father. "Maybe something in here will trigger another memory," she suggests.
Jonathan opens the trunk. He reaches in and pulls out a belt with a large buckle. "Clark, your grandfather wore this old thing every single day of his life. It was his favourite belt."
Clark takes it but nothing.
"I wish the two of you could've met him," Martha says in fond remembrance to her children but Hiram died before they found either Clark or Claire. "He was a wonderful man."
"Yeah," Claire says, a little sad at that. She's lost so much time with her proper family. Reminders always make her sad. "What about your father, mom?" she inquires about. She's never met him either.
Jonathan snorts rudely, showing what he thinks of Martha's father.
Martha looks stressed. "Yes. Haven't really talked much since we moved here. He never approved of me marrying Jonathan. Even less so moving here and once it came out about mutants...and he is a member of the Hellfire Club. I've been wary of talking too much to him about you, Claire. I don't know how close he is to Sebastian in all honesty."
"Why can't our lives be fucking simple?" Claire laments because you know, part of her would like to meet her grandfather.
Clark chuckles sadly. "Simple went out the window ages ago." He then pauses. "That looks like the jacket Jor-El wore," he says, pointing at the brown leather jacket in the chest, recognising it from his memories.
Jonathan picks it up and frowns a little at holding something Jor-El of all people might have worn. He's never liked Jor-El for varying reasons. Part of it is the simple fact of feeling he has a rival to who is Clark's father. The rest is fairly obvious and well-known. The making their lives hell part. He holds it out for Clark.
Clark takes the jacket and a new memory slams into his head.
Jor-El stands in the farmhouse kitchen along with Hiram...and Clark's grandmother, Jessica, who is heavily pregnant. She is helping Jor-El swap jackets for a denim one. In the missing gap Clark can assume his grandparents chose to believe Jor-El wasn't a murderer.
"At least you won't stand out as much if they stop you," Jessica is saying.
"I know all the back roads. We'll take them," Hiram suggests, showing the extent to which the Kents have decided to aid almost a complete stranger.
"I appreciate your help, but I'll find my way on my own," Jor-El tries to politely reject their offer of help.
"I am not sending you out alone," Hiram insists. "Now are you sure these caves are where you want to go?"
"Trust me when I say there is no safer place for me to be."
"So you'll hide and wait there until the heat dies down before moving on?" Jessica queries.
Jor-El looks at her puzzled for a moment, clearly not quite understanding the slang she is using until he guesses what she means. "Yes," he chooses to keep his answer simple.
"You're welcome to stay and try to clear this thing up," Hiram suggests because that would be right.
Jor-El shakes his head. "I've got no reason to stay any more," he says, his voice tight with hurt.
"Be careful," Jessica says to both of them.
Hiram flashes her that patented Kent goofy grin before talking down to her baby bump. "Bye, Gene."
Jessica rolls her eyes. "His name is Jonathan," she says as she has told him a hundred times already.
"We're still deciding," Hiram argues which earns him a look from his wife. Realising discretion is the better part of valour he heads for the door. "Come on, let's go," he tells Jor-El.
"Thank you," Jor-El says to Jessica before he departs.
Clark snaps back to the real world. "Grandpa and grandma helped him escape," he says.
Jonathan can't quite believe that. "Now, look, I-I'd like to believe you, Clark but..."
Clark cuts him off. "He wanted to name you Gene," he says, showing something he couldn't possibly have known otherwise.
Claire snorts hard with laughter. "Oh my fucking God! Gene!" she guffaws, unable to stop herself. That is so hilarious. What a stupid name.
Jonathan glares at her. "After Gene Autry," he explains. "We had all of his old records, but... Mom finally won out," he continues and that's how he ended up as Jonathan but it also shows Clark must have seen the truth.
Martha ponders this a moment while gripping her daughter's arm and gently squeezing to try and tell Claire to quit it with the laughter. "Hiram was a pretty good judge of character, Jonathan. I don't think he would've helped a guilty man," she gives her view of her memory of the man. Yes, she is as shocked as anyone she might end up defending Jor-El here.
Jonathan sighs. "Even so but how does that help with this? I don't think that an old bomber jacket's gonna prove anything," he says, not wishing to be a downer but none of this can prove the Mayor's guilt as Clark explained it what the man had done.
Clark looks down at the jacket. He's getting another inkling of a plan to deal with the Mayor. "I'm not too sure about that," he says in a tone that shows he's onto something.
"What will you do?" Jonathan wonders what is going through his son's head.
"Get back to Smallville, talk to the Professor...go warn Lex about Toyman," Clark says that last part making a face.
"Screw the bald jackass," Claire gives her opinion.
"Tempting but sadly the costume comes with responsibility, Claire as you know," he tells her, reminds her of what she does know...or is at least learning those times she goes out patrolling with him.
Claire sighs. "Some days I wonder if I wasn't better off choosing the path of villainy," she mutters.
Martha leans over and kisses her daughter on the forehead. "You don't mean that," she believes, with a warm smile, knowing this is just more of her daughter's grumpiness shining through.
"Well no," Claire concedes. "But you have to imagine they don't worry about these ethical issues crap."
"That's what makes them the bad guys," Clark says as if stating the obvious. "They don't care about who they hurt. Always have to be better than them," he essentially repeats what the Professor was saying and he was right. Clark may not like Lex that much right now but he does have to do his best to warn the man and if needs be protect him.
And right there Clark shows that, despite his slightly odd behaviour lately, he's still the son Martha and Jonathan raised.
"I need to go," Clark says.
"Be careful," Jonathan tells his son.
"With Toyman? That's always advisable."
Luthor Mansion, Smallville...
"I don't remember seeing you on my appointments list for today," Lex dead-pans at seeing Superman stand in his study...appear like a ghost in his study.
"Really? I told my secretary to phone ahead. You just can't get the help these days can you?" Superman quips in response.
Lex rolls his eyes and goes to his drinks cabinet. If he has to spend any length of time in Superman's company he'll need a strong drink. "You have 10 seconds before I call security," he warns.
"Your life is in danger."
"And you came to warn me? I'm touched," Lex says sarcastically with a slight sneer.
"Those 3 robots were after you. Sent by Winslow Schott."
"Who?" Lex asks puzzled as he fills a glass.
"The Toyman. He abducted your father last year. Don't pretend you don't know that happened. It seems he's turned his attentions to you now your father is no longer with us."
Lex sips his drink. Yes, he does know what happened. "Well thanks for the warning but I can look after myself. If Mr Schott comes a calling he'll learn I'm not my father."
"You have no idea who he is or what he can do," Superman warns.
"I'll handle it," Lex insists.
Whatever. Clark only came to warn him. He's done that. If Lex wants to be an ass and not listen Clark is not being held responsible.
Lex moves to sit behind his desk and places his glass down. "Show yourself out," he orders.
Clark makes one step to move when he notices a ripple in Lex's drink. He frowns. Then another ripple.
"What?" Lex asks at the expression on Superman's face.
"You don't feel that?"
"Feel what?"
Superman points at the drink. "Look. That's a vibration tremor."
Lex is about to dismiss Superman when he spots the ripple and feels the ground vibrate ever so slightly underneath him.
The vibrations get more intense and louder and closer...and then the wall to the study is smashed in and standing in the gap is a giant kangaroo, slightly taller than Superman himself, wearing boxing gloves.
"You have got to be kidding me," Superman mutters in disbelief. This is worse than the giant rubber duck and that was ridiculous.
The kangaroo hops forward, making the room shake. Well that explains what the tremors were.
Superman zips forward and smashes a right into the overgrown toy sending it smashing across the room and through Lex's desk. The fact Clark doesn't smash it apart instantly tells him that Toyman foresaw his interference and made this automaton more durable to combat him.
Superman zips in to finish the job and crush the head in...only for the kangaroo to show remarkable swiftness to dodge the blow. It slams a right into his gut followed by a left to his face sending him flying across the room. He crashes into a cabinet up against the wall, rubbing his jaw, more out of habit than in any actual pain.
The Kangaroo's pouch opens up like a drawbridge and it fires some sort of flexible metal tube that wraps around Superman, tightening all the time, trying to squeeze the breath out of him.
This is tougher than Clark thought as he tries to break free. Either Toyman's been experimenting with new superstrong alloys or Clark's not as fully recovered from his exposure to that spider stone as he thought he was.
Meanwhile the kangaroo gets back to its feet and hops toward Lex who grabs a gun, firing it, uselessly as the bullets bounce off the metal skin. It grabs Lex and tosses him into its pouch and seals him up inside. It then turns and starts to hop away.
Superman summons up all his strength into one push and he shatters the metal tube. He leaps into the air, hovers above the kangaroo, grabs it from behind and smashes it down into the floor. He lands and rips the pouch off and pulls Lex out and puts his former friend off to the side.
That distraction gets him smashed in the back by the kangaroo's tail, knocking him down to his knees before it strikes him again knocking him down flat, face first. Ok this is just getting embarrassing now.
The kangaroo grabs him by the jacket with its right hand, turns him round to face it and pulls its left back ready to pummel him in the face. Superman catches the punch and squeezes until the boxing glove fist crushes under his strength. He then rips the entire arm off. "Here. Let me give you a hand," he jokes as he uses the arm to smash the kangaroo in the head...which springs up...on an actual spring and spins round several times.
In response the marsupial shaped toy throws Superman upward until his head smashes through the ceiling. Ok when he said before this is getting embarrassing, forget that. This is genuinely embarrassing. He can only imagine how he looks, comically hanging with his legs dangling. He pushes himself free and lands on the ground.
In the few seconds it took him to do that the kangaroo has pulled some of the exposed wires from its ripped off arm and uses them to try and electrocute him. He grits his teeth against the, to him, mild shock. When it tries to punch him again he catches the fist. His eyes narrow. "Alright. Enough," he states, having thoroughly had enough. He smashes his free hand into the kangaroo's face, spinning it round. He then grabs it by the tail and spins round faster and faster, so fast the two become a blur before Superman throws it through the hole from whence it came.
He zips off, overtakes the still flying toy and gets ahead of it. He comes to a complete stop and waits until it reaches the right position. He inhales and unleashes his ice breath, freezing it solid. When it finally reaches him he smashes his fist into the ice cold automaton and it breaks apart, the ice cold making the metal that little bit more fragile. The varying pieces fall around him. He takes a moment to eye them to make certain they are no other surprises before zipping back into the mansion. Has to check on Lex...who is fine by the way. Not that Clark expects any thanks.
"So you'll handle it, huh?" Superman asks with a wry smirk. If Clark hadn't been here Lex would already be a prisoner of Toyman. "If he tries again, yell," Superman advises. "Meantime I'm going to see if I can find his base."
And with that Superman zips off leaving a fuming Lex behind. He grabs the bottle he was drinking from and takes a large gulp. He's never going to live this down.
Smallville Mutant Community...
"First things first, are you sure you're fine?" the Professor asks, after Clark finishes his story over saving Lex. He, Clark and Beast were in the x-jet for privacy.
"I'm fine," Clark insists, waving off the concerns. "Though that kangaroo was tougher than it should have been. I think Toyman made it with me in mind," he gives his theory as to why that fight took so long.
"He's adapting his technology to match you," Beast summarises it.
"He is a genius," Clark gives the only answer he can think of.
"So what now?" Charles asks.
"Carry on with what I was going to do anyway. I track Toyman down and stop him. As for you Professor...since I need to concentrate on finding Schott I actually had an idea about how you can help bring the Mayor to justice if you're willing," he makes the proposition.
Charles arches an eyebrow. He's intrigued. "What do you mean, Clark?"
"I think there's a way we can get him to confess to his crime."
Charles locks his fingers together under his chin. Clark had mentioned his current running theory on the Mayor and the murder of Louise McCallum after the town hall fiasco. It sounded feasible but lacked proof. However if there is a way to see justice done Charles would of course assist in that. "Please tell me your idea."
Elsewhere...
A menagerie of toys of all sorts, shapes and sizes are lined up on parade. In front of them on a platform Toyman marches back and forth, dressed in a General's uniform, carrying a short leather covered stick. "Men, I'm afraid it is my sad duty to report that our brave comrade, Boxy the Boxing Kangaroo, has fallen in the line of duty."
There are sad sounding gasps from the almost alive toys.
"Stout hearts men," Toyman tells them. "There will be time to grieve later. For now we must remain focussed on the objective. Delivering justice to Lex Luthor and he shall see justice. I promise you, that unlike what happened with his father, we will see this through to completion and not even Superman shall stop us. I come in front of you today to tell you that today is the day we shall unleash total war upon our enemies!" he declares, his voice rising to a zenith. "Victory!" he shouts.
The varying toys make loud noises in return like they're chanting 'Victory, victory, victory' over and over.
Toyman repeats his chant. "Victory!"
Author's Note: Poor Boxy the Boxing Kangaroo. Lets all take a moment to remember his passing...and we're back. You'll find the Superman TAS episode Obsession gave me inspiration for a lot of Toyman's actions in this. That's where the Kangaroo came from. Though I added Toyman tweaking his toys to be much, much stronger so as to give Clark at least a partial challenge. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Relic part 5 as Clark hunts for Toyman while the Mayor is haunted by the ghosts of his past.