Disclaimer: I don't own Justice League, or Kingdom Come. Any, and all related characters are owned by Warner Bros., and DC Comics Entertainment.
Chapter 2 - Old Soldiers
Afternoon - Location: Metropolis Park
The Justice League's Superman has just finished his speech to the gathered people, Leaguer's, and the press about the League being arrogant, and how they had alienated the people they were trying to protect. Superman was interrupted by Green Arrow, and he gave his own speech how the world needs the Justice League, and that the League needs Superman. Unfortunately, Arrow revealed too much information when he made a slip of the tongue when interviewed by Lois Lane about the Watchtower's rescue. Now, the League is being grilled by member's of the press about the other Superman that single handed saved the Watchtower from crashing to the Earth.
"Superman!, Superman! Drake Esposito of the Gotham Gazette! How did this other Superman get here, and is this another evil version of you like in the Justice Lords that the League defeated?" Drake gets shoved out of the way by several other reporters with rapid fire questions all at once, until Lois Lane walks over to the podium and all the other reporters stop asking questions to hear what she has to say on the subject. "Superman...Lois Lane of the Daily Planet! Where is this other Superman now, and how will the League stop him if he decides to go rogue like Justice Lord Superman?"
Superman sends a look down at Lois, who smiles and lightly shrugs her shoulders in response. Superman grasps a hold of the microphone, and is about to answer Lois' question when Batman abruptly grabs the microphone, and scowls down at the reporters.
"This press conference is over. No more questions." This sends the Media Reporters into a frenzy, and some start shouting about a conspiracy, and the people's right to know. Batman glares at the Reporters, and responds to them with a low growl in his voice. "The League will deal with this parallel Earth Superman. End of discussion." Batman places the microphone back on its stand, and walks with long strides across the Podium, and down the stairs to press a button on his utility belt to re-call his Bat-mobile. Superman, and the rest of the League members look over at the Dark Knight in surprise before Superman takes the mike back to run some crowd control with the upset reporters.
Flash scratches the back of his cowled head, and the white eye lenses on his mask widen slightly in confusion. "What's with Bats? I thought he was mellowing out a little, and now he's all broody again. You think its because of older Supes flying about in space without a chaperon?" John Stewart aka. Green Lantern glances at his friend, and teammate with a slight frown marring his features.
"The fact that this other Superman saved the Watchtower doesn't mean we trust him, Flash. After the Justice Lords, we're more than a little skeptical of alternate versions of ourselves coming out of the woodwork. Orion, Dr. Light, Fate, and Supergirl are keeping an eye on him. They are also in constant communication with us, and give us updates every hour on the hour. In fact, one should be coming in any minute now..." John hears a beeping noise coming from the communication device in his right ear. John presses a small button on it with his index finger, and puts his gloved hand up to silence Flash to begin speaking on the communication line.
"This is Supergirl reporting in. Any Leaguer's down there to pick up the phone?" Supergirl's voice has a playful ring to it over the communication line, and Lantern grouses at Supergirl's lack of protocol while on duty. John presses the device to speak back to Supergirl.
"This is Green Lantern, what is your status?" John hears the teenage Kryptonian humming lowly over the line, and then he hears her shouting out something that he can't quite make out over the communication line. John is on alert, and green energy from his power ring on his finger starts enveloping his body. "Kara! Are you alright?! Is he attacking you? Hang on! Backup is on the way!" Before John can alert the other core members of the League, Supergirl cuts into the line.
"Whoa! Call off the Calvary! We're out here in space orbiting the Earth...I was shouting at Orion. He was complaining about this assignment being a waste of his time. You see, Kal is just hovering here in space with his eyes closed. He-he doesn't even need a spacesuit, and he's perfectly fine with there being no oxygen to breathe up here! I couldn't believe it when I first saw it, but then again...he did lift the whole Watchtower without breaking a sweat." John relaxes his shoulders, and sighs deeply with relief. Flash sees John start to power down his ring, and he exhales a big breath of air he didn't know he was holding in, and begins to relax.
"Did he say why he wants to orbit the Earth?..." John gets interrupted when Supergirl cuts back into the line again. "He just...wow! I barely picked up on his movement, G.L.! He moves at a speed I didn't think was possible, and he's back on Earth! Just a sec...I'm using my telescopic vision...he's right in the heart of Metropolis City! What? Look like Bizarro's making trouble near the Daily Planet building, and Kal is intervening!"
"Meet us there! We may need the extra muscle if the other Superman causes us trouble."
John hears affirmative responses from the other Leaguers in space over the comm, and the communication line is cut off on her end. John powers back up his green lantern ring, and flies over to the other core Justice League Members with Flash running over to get there first.
"We've got a situation. Bizarro's tearing up Metropolis, and the other Superman got past our guys and is about to engage him. The others are on the way there as we speak. We need to contain this before it gets out of hand!" Superman frowns, and nods his head. Wonder Woman takes to the air with Martian Manhunter, and Hawkgirl following suit. Superman blinks, and begins to scan around for something, or someone.
"Wait...where is Batman?" The other Leagers shake their heads, except for Martian Manhunter who folds his green arms over his chest. "I saw Batman leaving, and picked up his surface thoughts. He tapped into the communication between Green Lantern, and Supergirl." J'onn reaches his right hand to his temple, and his red eyes start glowing indicating that he is using his telepathic abilities. "Batman is traveling to the main area of the city now, and he plans to use the Kryptonite in his belt to subdue both of them." Martian Manhunter's red eyes stop glowing when he cuts his psionic connection into Batman's mind. Superman narrows his eyes, and shakes his head while taking to the air.
"I'll get my lead lined suit from the Javelin! Let's go!" Superman flies at his top speed to the Javelin, and quickly returns back to the group dressed in his specially designed lead lined suit. All of the reporters that lingered after the conference was over were receiving calls to return to the main section of the city to cover Bizarro's attack on the city. The rest of the JLU were getting ready to follow the founding members to the danger zone, when Superman shook his head at them. "No. We all go into the City, and we'll look like an invading army...exactly what we don't want or need at this time." Superman gestures with his hand at the core members. "We'll head out to take care of Bizarro." Some of the JLU members nod hesitantly at Superman, and watch the founding members speed off to the heart of the city.
Black Canary glances up at Green Arrow with a smirk on her lips, with her arms folded under her chest. "We're going anyway, right?" Green Arrow is smiling back at Canary, and revving up her Motorcycle, and holding out her helmet to her. "You coming? I was thinking I'd have to take on big dumb, and ugly all by my lonesome." Black Canary walks over to the Motorbike with a sway in her hips, and yanks the biker helmet out of Arrow's hand. "Come on, Mr. Smartypants. We're missing out on the action. Move over, I'm driving!" Green Arrow blanches, and shakes his head at Canary. "No way! I'm still picking shards of pavement out of my teeth from the last time you drove this thing! My health insurance premiums go through the roof every time you start the engine."
Canary chuckles, and smirks back at him as she takes the driver's seat from him, and dons her helmet over her head. She revs the motor more, and tosses Arrow his helmet. "Pocket change for you, and hello? Superhero ring a bell? Risk comes with the job...now let's get going!" Canary pops a wheelie on the bike, and Arrow has to hold onto her waist for dear life, as she speeds off with Green Arrow in the direction of the Daily Planet building.
Main section of Metropolis - Near the Daily Planet
"Me not know who you be, but me am Bizarro...me am big hero of Metropolis! You look like Superman...but am younger. Bizarro will show Metropolis that me hero who will save the day!" Bizarro said in his broken speech pattern to KC Superman, who is hovering in the air 10 feet in front of him, and shaking his head. Bizarro gives him a clueless expression, and scratches the top of his head.
"What I saw wasn't helping, Bizarro. The elderly woman who was waiting to cross the busy street was almost killed when you shoved her out into traffic. She would've died if I was a split second slower." Bizarro looks more confused than ever, and then nods his head to smile with an uneven amount of teeth showing in his mouth at KC Superman.
Supergirl, Orion, Dr. Light, and Dr. Fate all arrive at the scene exiting out of a portal created by Fate's magic. Orion readies his New Genesis weaponry, and frowns at the older Superman. "Why does he not attack this simpleton? If this creature had any level of intelligence, it would be dangerous. Let me just put it out of it's misery." Orion aims one of his plasma cannons at Bizarro, and Supergirl quickly kicks it with her boot to send the blast from the weapon harmlessly skyward.
"Why are you a member of the League again? Someone, anyone please remind me! You don't fire city destroying weapons inside a populated city!" Supergirl groans in frustration, and turns to Dr. Light who shrugs her shoulders. "Don't look at me...I thought he was paper trained." Orion growls over at Dr. Light, and she smiles back at him with an innocent look. "Cease this mindless prattle, all of you. I-I am conversing directly with Nabu through my helmet. We are not to interfere with the events that are about to transpire!" Supergirl stares over at Fate like he was crazy, with Orion and Dr. Light giving him odd looks.
"We can't! What if there are people that get hurt because we're just standing here doing nothing? I'm going!" Dr. Fate shook his head, and chanted an incantation with his gloved hands glowing a violet color. "The rings of Okaridu shall keep you in place!" Amber rings of magic loop over the other three heroes binding them to the spot they stand on unable to move.
"Release us, Magician...or you will pay the price!" Orion threatens to Fate with a sneer on his face. Fate shakes his head in the negative, and levitates with his legs in the lotus position.
"I think not. These events must play out so that Order can be assured. If not, Chaos will reign and this world will burn. Nabu has shown me this in a vision. You must trust me, my friends. I would not have to do this if the situation was not dire." Fate said with confidence in his voice that his reasons are sound, and turns to watch the older version of Superman in a stand off with Bizarro.
"Me am under-standing you now. Light was red...means she safe to cross. Super-man person want to be big hero like Bizarro, and take job of protecting citi-zens." Bizarro makes a tsking sound with his mouth, and wags his index finger at KC Superman. "Bizarro no need any help protecting. Citi-zens hate Bizarro, and Bizarro hates citi-zens! You am intruder, and Bizarro is here to save the day!" Bizarro flies at KC Superman at high speed, and prepares to deliver a powerful blow to his face. Bizarro blinks in shock when he doesn't see his adversary anywhere. Then he feels a tapping on the top of his head, and the other Superman is right behind him.
"While we were talking, I scanned your body with my X-ray, and Telescopic vision. You were cloned from the Superman of this world. Who would do something like this? The cellular degeneration is irreversible using the technology of this era. If I only had my equipment from the fortress..." KC Superman was cut off from saying anything more by another attack from a confused, and angry Bizzaro.
"Speaking big words! Bizarro loves big words...you am Bizarro's best friend!" Bizarro swings wildly at KC Superman, and grows more angry at missing his target every time he tries to hit him. KC Superman continues to dodge the sloppy punches, and kicks thrown at him by Bizarro.
Bizarro starts looking around to street level for something, and spots a school bus full of children, and begins to fly directly at the bus. The Bus Driver sees the super-villain flying right at them, and takes evasive maneuvers to escape any impact with him. The small school children are screaming in their seats, and some of them are crying in fear. The Bus Driver yells for the children to run to the emergency exit in the back of the bus, and then closes his eyes tightly waiting for the impact. He waits for several seconds, but nothing is happening. The children in the back are now laughing, and cheering at the top of their lungs.
"Look, Look! It's Superman...he saved us!" A little girl with short brown hair, and blue eyes shouts in excitement.
"Wha...you think that's Superman? He gots grey hairs like my Grandpa!" A small boy with blond curly hair with a missing front tooth said with a scrunched up look on his face, and shaking his head in denial.
"You dummy! The costume's gotta big 'S' on it! Who else got somethin' like that?" Another young boy said to the first one sarcastically, and points a small finger over to the symbol on KC Superman's chest.
The cheers, and arguments between the children continued until the Bus Driver quickly took control of the situation, and rushed them out the emergency exit of the Bus to safety.
KC Superman had grabbed Bizarro before he could get too close to the Bus, and threw him down to the other side of the street making a huge crater where Bizarro landed. KC Superman didn't wait for Bizarro to excavate himself from the crater, and was standing over the failed clone with a stern look on his face. "No more, Bizarro. It ends here." KC Superman lifts Bizarro up out of the crater by the front of his costume, and brings him up to eye level with him.
"Wait!" KC Superman looks over toward where the familiar voice came from, and sees Batman standing very close to them with an unreadable expression on his face where his cowl doesn't cover. KC Superman grabs Bizzaro's arms in an unbreakable hold, and flies over to Batman.
"I heard your heartbeat when I was fighting Bizzaro, Batman. Why didn't you try to help...it isn't like you at all." KC Superman said to Batman frowning down at him. Batman narrows his eyes behind the white eye lenses of his cowl, and reaches into his utility belt for his ace in the hole.
"Don't pretend that you know me. You know nothing about who I am. You're someone that doesn't belong here. A ghost that should fade back into the void where you came from." Batman pushed aside one section of his long cape to show the chunk of green Kryptonite that he had in his belt. Batman lifts up the green glowing fragment from Krypton, and Bizarro starts feeling the effects of the kryptonite, and soon stops struggling in KC Superman's grip. Batman's eyes widen slightly when he doesn't see any change in KC Superman. Batman walks closer to the two Kryptonians, and Bizarro groans in pain with each step Batman takes.
"Enough, Bruce. The only one you're hurting with that kryptonite fragment is this poor misshapen shadow of a man." KC Superman said to Batman, and uses his heat vision to melt the green Kryptonite in his gloved hands. Batman quickly drops the melted slag that used to resemble Kryptonite, and jumps back when KC Superman starts flying away with Bizarro slung over his left shoulder. The other founding members of the Justice League arrive with Supergirl's group now free of Fate's spell joining them, and Arrow with Black Canary skidding to a stop on her Motorcycle right next to them. They all see that Bizarro is unconscious over KC Superman's shoulder, and he is in a stare down with Batman.
"You have a weakness. Every living thing has one. I'll find yours. Count on it." KC Superman has a sad expression on his face when he looks back at the Batman.
"The Batman that I know is a man of conviction, but also one that never judges someone without hard evidence of wrong-doing. What have I done to earn your animosity? Tell me, Batman...help me to understand why you want to see me weak, and helpless?" Batman still is wearing a grim expression on his face, and grits his teeth at KC Superman. KC Superman's blue eyes widen in realization, and he turns around to float down to land on the street below.
"You want to prove to yourself that I'm mortal...that I bleed like everyone else. Listen closely. I've lived through fight after fight. I witnessed good people...my friends die and felt powerless. People sweat, bleed, dream, live, love, and eventually die...we're all the same. It doesn't matter if you can lift a Bus, or if you're only able to lift a pencil in the air. You want to know what hurts me? This. Seeing a younger version of my best friend looking for ways to injure me to prove something that's pointless." KC Superman looks from Batman over to Wonder Woman, who is standing with the other heroes. "Diana is effectively immortal, would you subject her to the same treatment?" An almost imperceptible twitch could be seen in the Batman's face, and he glares at KC Superman.
KC Superman nods, and smiles forlornly at Batman. "That's right. You wouldn't. Neither would I. I fell in love with my Diana, and would never hurt her. It's something we have in common." KC Superman smiles knowingly at Batman, and then quickly turns his head to see a sea of media reporters running towards them. KC Superman shakes his head. "Some things never change." He then turns his head to look at his younger counterpart. "We have to talk." KC Superman flies past Batman, and misses the scowl that Bruce sends him.
Superman nods his head, and takes Bizarro from the older version of himself, and Martian Manhunter puts meta-human restraints around Bizarro's arms, and legs. "I will take Bizarro to a secure facility, Superman." Flash zips over, and nods at Martian Manhunter, and runs over to stand next to Superman, and taps a hand on his shoulder. "Not to worry, Big Blue...I've got this! I'm a media darling, and I'll have them eating outta my hands!" Green Lantern walks behind Flash and slaps him on the back of the head. "Ow! What's the deal, G.L.?!"
John smirks, and places his left gloved hand on Flash's cowled head. "I'll stick around to make sure Flash doesn't put one of his red boots in his mouth when speaking to the press." Flash pushes John's hand off of his head, and glares lightly at his friend. Hawkgirl rolls her eyes at Wally, and taps her mace in her right hand. "I can knock him out before they get here. It would save us the headache of hearing Flash tripping over his own tongue."
"Har-Har! Very funny. I can totally be cool, calm, and collective...just watch me in action!" John smiles, and chuckles good naturedly, and folds his arms over his chest. "Rrriiight." Flash rubs the back of his head with a cheesy grin on his face, and KC Superman laughs happily at the scene.
"Seeing you all again like this...before the fall of heroes, it really takes me back. *sigh* Well, we better leave before the media vultures start asking me a hundred questions." KC Superman starts to fly, and sees Wonder Woman staring at him with a solemn gaze. KC Superman's expression softens, and he nods down to Diana before heading skyward in a burst of sudden speed that almost lifts the League members off their feet. Superman follows close behind him, and they are soon both just small dots on the horizon.
Chapter 2 Complete! Thanks for reading! Let me know what you thought of the chapter in a review, and I hope to see you in chapter 3 of 'Convergence: JLU'! :D