A DOOMED PLANET
The red sky was ominous as the woman hurried her family to safety. Soon she would bathe in Rao's light. The 15 year old blonde sobbed as she tried to cling to her mother. The brown haired 3 year held the hand of his aunt never wanting to let go. While their personalities were majorly different the boy was able to pretend that he was in the prescence of his mother once more. Alura picked the boy up holding him tightly to her chest as if he was as precious as the planet itself. And he was. The son of her sweet sister Astra who had lost herself in her quest. Her intentions may have been well placed but she was unable to fathom her methods. It was something that kept her up at night. She fondly remembered confusing their parents due to their nature of being identical twins. She remembered how her sister, so closed off in public, told the two young cousins of the stars and how the children proclaimed they would see them all.

The three reached a circular platform with two ornate oval shapes. Spaceships. "Hurry Kara" Alura said in her native tongue. The blonde ran as fast as she could. Her eyes burning and her legs aching. The three year old was not able to understand the full extent of what was happening. He could do his multiplication which was average for a Kryptonian but he was only able to pick up on the seriousness of the situation. "Into the pod Kara" Alura begged.

"What about you?" Kara cried.

"I'm not coming"

"Art is small he can fit with me"

"Kara go. The two of you need to protect each other. While you have hope you shall, thrive amongst the humans. The two of you will be 'El mayarah". Alura parted Art from her chest and set him down in his pod. He grabbed at her as much as he could, crying as he did so. Alura strapped him into the pod pressing all kinds of glowing buttons. "Goodbye sweet nephew soon this will seem like a dream and you will wake to green grass and blue sky". The pods roared into action leaving the doomed planet.

Art was unable to understand why he was alone. Someone was always with him be it Kara or his aunt when his mother was working. She was working a lot lately. Inside the pod he turned back round to Krypton, to home. He looked just in time to see the planet rip into pieces. The pod shook violently as he looked to his left and saw into Kara's blue eyes for what would unknowingly be the last time. Her pod shook far worse than what his own had. It veered to the left as he shut his eyes. It was gone. He slept and dreamt as he slept.

A KINDLY COUPLE
It was a dark and humid night as two adults drove their pickup truck. It was red and had an American flag on the bumper. It was relatively new and had the customary mud splatter that all cars in Smallville had due to the country roads. The blonde woman was leant against the window gently crying herself to sleep as her husband drove in silence. She seemed as if someone had given her a terminal diagnosis. The truth was she would rather that than the one she got. She was broken and as much as her husband told her otherwise it was the truth. Her truth. They had been purposely trying for just over two years for children and every negative and false positive felt like a poison knife. She was not the most religious person around but most were in the area so she even prayed, hoping that things would change. Now they had proof. Proof that her biggest dream would never come true. Jonathan Kent was her husband's name. He was tall and had the physical evidence of lifting hay bales for most of his life. He was a true gentleman something that drew Martha to him. He pulled over. He looked at Martha with the utmost concern. He knew how much it meant to her, to both of them but she had the habit of internalising everything when she believed it her fault. "This is not the end. There are tonnes of kids out there who need a home. We can provide that for them, they won't be ours by blood but we will still be their parents in every way that matters" he told her. She leaned away from the window and into her husband pulling her blankets back over herself. The two didn't move for what seemed like minutes. Unknown to them a streak of red could be seen in the distance.

A loud bang was heard as if something broke the sound barrier. The married couple jolted forgetting their troubles. Jonathan got out the car as he saw a flaming object land in the field next to them. "Martha stay here. I'm going to take a look" she neither nodded or shook her head remaining silent which Jonathan took as acceptance. He rushed through the cornfield towards the flaming crater. He looked at the object inside it. It was dark silver, at first he thought it was a meteor but as he looked closer he realised just how wrong he was. Meteors don't have drawings of an S on. He heard noise behind him. He screamed like a teenage girl only to be relieved at the sight of his wife. "You almost gave me a heart attack" he said still nervously breathing heavily.
"What in God's name is that?" She asked rhetorically. She watched as Jonathan took a couple of steps closer. A hatch opened allowing a baby to be seen. "It's a baby" Martha said incredulously as she leaned down to pick the screaming baby up.

"Martha. What are you doing?" Jonathan hissed at her. "It came from a spaceship" he finished as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"He's a he not an it" she told him like a mother scolding a child. The baby began wheezing as if breathing was comparable to climbing Everest. She gently rocked the child just as she had always dreamed of doing. Her attempt to calm the child was not working. Art did not understand why this strange person was holding him so he did what any reasonable 3 year old would do and proceeded to cry even more. Had he not been crying and fighting for breath the Kent's would have made about the sound 'ara' and 'ieiu'. "We need to take him home"

"Shouldn't we tell somebody about this. I mean this" his words faltered as he finished his sentence. He was still trying to absorb everything. "We both know what will happen. He'll be treated like a lab rat. And mommy won't let that happen will she? No she won't"

"Martha he's not ours. He obviously came from somewhere. From someone" he said curtly.

"Jonathan if this isn't fate, destiny even divine intervention if you will. Then I don't know what is."

"Let's get him home then" he smiled as his wife climbed into her seat still holding the child who was still wrapped in a blanket.

Martha sat down on the soft couch still holding the boy. The wheezing and shallow breath had become worse. "Why is he making that sound?" She asked.

"I don't know. Could be the air, could be anything" her husband answered unsurely.

"He looks human enough" Martha commented as she saw the very human looking baby.

"I guess it doesn't quite live up to the imagination" her husband quipped.

"He's not going to make it is he?" she asked tentatively.

"I don't think so" he said regretfully.

"I'm going to stay with him. It's the least I can do" she said.

"I. I'm sorry I can't. I'll take the trailer for the ship" he stuttered before leaving to bring the wreckage to the barn. He would do anything for his wife but there was no chance he would be able to be there when it happened.

Martha continued to bounce the boy in her lap. "I bet you would be a heartbreaker wouldn't you hmm" the child merely looked up at her. "I suppose I should name you. How about Arthur?" For a brief moment she could have sworn Arthur cocked his head in recognition. "There was a king with that name long ago". Soon the soon to be mother fell asleep with the child who would be her son.

Martha woke to pain. Something was pulling her hair and it hurt enough to make her find god. She rubbed her eyes, her vision blurry. She saw the outline of Arthur and almost began to cry. As her eyes adjusted she saw him move, it was him pulling her hair.
The boy was no longer fighting to stay alive in fact he seemed rather healthy. She was giddy with excitement her laughs waking her husband. Johnathan came running down the stairs fearing the worst. As he entered the room he saw his wife smiling playing with the child. "He seems much better" Jonathan said looking outside where it was still dark it couldn't have been more than a few hours. Art grabbed Martha's finger. At first she didn't mind in fact she quite liked his little hand holding hers. Her brows furrowed as the pressure began to increase. It continued to increase until she shrieked. Jonathan rushed over and took her hand "I think he broke your finger"

"How? He's just a baby" the woman asked.

"He's not human, Martha"

"You didn't mean to hurt mommy did you Arthur?"

"Mommy? Arthur?" He asked his wife in a confused manor.

"You saw it as well as I did. A spaceship. If she was alive his mother would have come for him by now" she explained still inspecting her purple finger. Jonathan smiled as he took Arthur in his arms. Seeing the little boy up close he knew there was no way that they could turn him away.

16 year old Arthur Joseph Kent woke from a dream. He was in a spaceship looking at a planet explode. He remembered a woman's face. He always had weird dreams of odd looking animals a sister called Kara and a beautiful red sun. But he just had an overactive imagination that is what everyone always said. The thing that was truly strange was what he could do. He was able to hear things a mile away something that caused a big problem at first, he could lift more than any human could. He was able to shoot lasers from his eyes, it really wasn't his fault that the school had to have multiple fundraisers to repair the damage. If Lana hadn't kissed him while wearing her cheer uniform it wouldn't have happened. Fortunately no one was hurt and a gas problem seemed the only plausible solution. Well certainly more plausible than an alien shooting lasers from his eyes because the girl he liked kissed him.

Breakfast was Arthur's favourite time of the day. Well any time involving food was his favourite but breakfast was certainly up there. It became obvious quite soon into his childhood that he had to eat a lot. 'Porridge followed by waffles and extra bacon for Arthur' was his favourite sentence in the galaxy and he should know he had been to multiple or at least he dreamt he had. He went down stairs and sat in his customary chair. "Morning" he said to them politely but devoid of the usual enthusiasm his voice normally held.

"Morning son" his father said to him. They ate their breakfast talking about school and the farm as they normally did. Arthur salivated at the sight of bacon his mother brought to him. He wolfed it down as quick as he humanly could. Martha and Jonathan began exchanging a look between themselves, they often did so but Arthur could never find out why. Soon Arthur's plate was as clean as if it had just been washed.

Arthur looked at his father and asked "is everything ok? I promise I haven't broken anything recently".

"Everything is fine" his mother assured him. Arthur sighed in relief that there was no bad news to be given. "Come out to the old barn with me" his father told him. Arthur had never been allowed in the old barn before not that he particularly wanted to. The thing looked like it could be from a horror film. The stereotypical red paint was peeling and had become darker. The window was cracked and it had a hole in the wood that may or may not have been Arthur's fault.

The two entered the barn. His father began moving hay bales revealing an unknown object underneath a cover. "You've asked where you come from? Why you can do the things you can?" He said while pulling the cover off revealing the object underneath. "We found you in this. All those years ago" he said. Arthur stared at the pod. Martha made her way over to the barn worried about what state she would find her son in. She stood in the doorway as she watched her husband and son. "When we brought you home" she paused her memories of that night and what could have been still impactful. "We didn't think you were going to make it" she finished as she walked over to them. "You're the answer Arthur. The answer to 'are we alone in the universe?'" He looked fondly at his son who's face was currently blank. Arthur was shaking now as tears began to leak from his tear ducts.

"My dreams? They aren't dreams are they? Every time I have that dream. I'm watching everyone die" he fell to his knees as the damn that held back his tears broke. "Kara, My mother they're all dead" his parents held him as he continued to mourn for his home.

Central city:
Central city. A nice young city with a coastline and an economy that seemed to bounce back from the particle accelerator accident higher than ever. It was untouched by the attempted invasion by Zod three years ago. He had spent the last three years as Arthur Kent upcoming reporter and as Superman. The superhero, Man of Steel and occasional rescuer of cats in trees. He continued to live in Metropolis though he went wherever Superman was needed and where he went hope followed. He found that he had to escape Metropolis. It was the scene of his greatest triumph but also a loss that cut so deeply it began to affect him. It took his mother to point out the unhealthiness of it. She was a wise woman Arthur had no doubt about that. He found himself obsessing over what ifs and could have been. He was now the last son of Krypton a moniker that no one should have to bear.

He stepped off the train at precisely 8 o clock in the morning. He looked around in awe at the tall buildings. He had been to Metropolis and lived there for three years but every time he left the city and returned it always shocked him how the buildings touched the sky, just as he could. Perhaps it was the remainder of the country boy from Smallville that still lived within him. He checked his silver watch again. It was a gift from his father just before he died. It was his most treasured possession. The time read 08:10. He was going to be late if he didn't hurry up. He walked as fast as a normal human could in an effort to be on time. "Now was it a left then a right after two roads or the other way around?" He thought to himself.

Lois Lane was currently not a happy real estate agent. Here she was on a Monday morning at 08:20 and her client was running late. It didn't help that it looked like it was going to tip it down. As she looked down the street for any sign of her client, she checked her clipboard once again, Arthur J Kent. A tall man around six foot two with brown hair and wearing a sweater that looked like his mother chose it, was running along the street towards her. As the man came to a stop, panting in front of her, Lois was able to take in the sight of the man. While she hadn't seen it from afar the man was clearly well built, his glasses doing nothing to take away from his attractiveness. Maybe she would forgive him for being late. She raised an eyebrow at him, a move that she had clearly practiced to perfection. Arthur had regained his composure. "Sorry for being late Mrs Lane I got turned around" he said as politely as his mother had raised him to be. "These big cities are like mazes. Back home we had one road through the entire town" he explained to her making idle small talk. "It's Miss by the way. So where is it you are from Mr. Kent?" She asked.

She watched as a smile formed on the man's face "Smallville" he answered proudly. Lois didn't know how to respond to that. She wasn't sure if the man was joking or not.

"Shall we get started then?" She asked. Arthur gave a polite smile as he grabbed the door for her. They walked into the lobby where they were greeted by a security guard who was sat behind a desk typing at a computer. He had two potted plants either side of him and there was a newspaper stand in the far corner. The guard greeted Lois who returned his greeting. Perhaps she had clients in this building before. There were three elevators with a set of stairs at the side. Lois pushed the button for the elevator. "You will be on floor eight Mr Kent. I actually sold an apartment to your neighbour" she paused "a scientist if I recall correctly". The two waited for the elevator to reach the correct floor as the jolly music played. Arthur followed Lois to the apartment. Lois opened the the door to the apartment for Arthur. He stepped in. There was a couch and a chair pointing to where a tv would go. The kitchen was modern which was probably the biggest concern with how much he had to eat. "There are bigger apartments available but I know you said you only needed a little space"

"It's perfect actually. Just show me the dotted line" he quipped.

Within minutes the paperwork was signed. "Congratulations on becoming Central City's newest resident Mr. Kent" she said politely.

"Thank you Miss Lane" Lois thanked him once again and left leaving Arthur in his new apartment. Part of him still couldn't believe it. Had he been asked as a child he wouldn't have predicted being in Central City. He wasn't quite sure what drew him here but he was bound to find out sooner or later.

Arthur walked down the streets of Central city familiarising himself with the streets. He couldn't hear anything that demanded his attention. Apart from the rumbling of his stomach. He could hear and smell a café so that is where he went. It was a nice enough place. Arthur walked up to the counter. The barista's name tag read 'Iris'. "What can I get for you?"

"A coffee and two doughnuts please" Arthur responded.

"Long day?"

"Something like that. Just moved here today" he said smiling optimistically.

Iris had a curious expression on her face "really? Where'd you move from?" She asked.

"Metropolis" Arthur stated.

"Really? Home of the guy in blue" she said brightly at the mention of what seemed to be the powerful alien's home.

"Yeah. Just needed a new start you know"

"I get that. Ah here you go. Enjoy" she said handing over a coffee and two chocolate and custard doughnuts. "Thank you" Arthur replied politely before sitting down with his order and beginning to type Emails on his phone. A while later he left. Walking down the overcast street. It was as he turned that his super hearing alerted him to a mugging down the alleyway. No time to change he thought. As he continued down the street he saw the mugger with his back turned to him. With a well measured punch Arthur disabled him. He saw the recognition in the woman's eyes. It was the barista, Iris. "Are you ok?" Arthur asked extending a hand to help her off the floor. He used his vision to look for injuries. He saw that she was bleeding from her head. "I'll call the police".

"No that's fine you don't need to" she said somewhat groaning as she spoke.
"Well we can't let this happen to somebody else" he said trying to sound positive.
"I'm fine thank you" as she looked at him she saw that he was already on the phone to the police. Inwardly she screamed. The last thing she needed was to put more on her father's plate when Barry had been in a coma for almost nine months. "Truly I'm right as rain" she tried to justify.

"Why didn't you want me to call the police?" Arthur asked curiously even though they were already on their way.

"My dad is a cop I don't want to worry him for no reason. Not when my foster brother is still in a coma from that particle accelerator" she explained with a huff. Before anything else could be said sirens sounded incredibly close. A tall good looking man stepped out the car under his brown hair was a face that displayed concern. Not the concern of a normal cop but a much more personal one.

"God. Iris are you ok?" he exclaimed as he rushed towards her.

"Yes. I told Arthur here that calling the cops was a bit overkill" she said with a light chuckle. The cop grabbed the attempted mugger handcuffed him in the back part of the car that Arthur didn't know the term for.

He walked back over to them after shutting the door. "Detective August Heart" he introduced himself to the stranger. "I'm going to have to ask the two of you to fill out some paperwork at the station. Nothing too much. There's a security camera right there anyway" he said pointing up at the wall. Rookie mistake Arthur thought. Had he needed to use his powers there'd be video evidence.

"August come on. You know what my dad's like" Iris continued to complain.

"Sorry Iris. Barry would kill me when he wakes if I didn't" he joked. As Arthur thought he could clearly see how the two were such good friends. This August also seemed be such good friends with this Barry too.

Iris was sat next to him as he was answering August's questions. "Could you state your name please?" He asked the reporter professionally.

"Arthur Jonathan Kent" he answered.

"Where were you born?" Came the detective's voice.

"Don't know. I grew up in Smallville since I was three"

"I'm not in the mood for games Mr. Kent?"

"Smallville"

"It's really called Smallville?" He asked. Arthur nodded as August shook his head in amusement. "What were you doing in that alley Mr. Kent?" He asked his tone slightly less friendly.

"Just got a bit lost. I may have lived in Metropolis but directions are still not my forté" both the cop and barista laughed at his joke.

"My screen says that you are a journalist. You worked for Katco. didn't you?" He asked the reporter.

Iris' eyes flashed in recognition. "Arthur Kent the Katco. reporter who was able to interview Superman?"

"Um yes. I didn't know I was that popular" he joked.

"The two of you are free to go now. We've got all we need" he told the reporter.

"Thank you detective Heart" he said politely.

"I'll tell Joe that you were completely fine"

"Thanks August" Iris chirped. Arthur walked away happy that he was able to help someone. He was probably going to head back to Smallville and unpack tomorrow. Hopefully there would be some pie.

Iris wanted to be a journalist. She had her blog with a few readers but that wasn't a real journalist. She could expose corruption and bring attention to the issues that needed it. Help people, not like her father, Barry or Eddie but help people just the same. If Arthur could provide some advice or an in road who was she to refuse. She hurried after him drawing only a few looks from the passing strangers. "Mr Kent" she said trying to draw his attention unaware that he had already heard her running after him.

"Please call me Arthur. What can I do?" He asked.

"I was hoping I could ask some questions"

"Of course. Though I'm better at asking them then answering them" he joking lightly his Kansas accent starting to creep back in.

"I was wondering how you managed to interview Superman?"

"Right place right time. Or perhaps he knew Mrs. Grant was going to kill me if I didn't get one and considered it saving me" he quipped.

"I've heard her reputation but I didn't know it was that bad" she joked.

"It's worse. I've been Aiden for the last three years. Honestly" he said pausing to compose his thoughts. "She's the best in the game and she knows that so she's not afraid to act like it" Iris thought on his words briefly.

"I didn't know that had a branch here" she said puzzled.

"They don't. I've decided to strike out on my own. America is the land of opportunity is it not?" He smiled brightly. He tilted his head to the side as he heard a scream. He looked at his watch. A well practiced manoeuvre to seem inconspicuous. "It seems I have to fly" and as soon as he was out of sight he did.

He flew through the air breaking the sound barrier as he went. He saw the plane and increased his speed as much as he could. The plane was almost in a nose dive over the Atlantic. A trail of black smoke came from the left engine. He quickly passed in front of the pilots window causing them to smile. He could see the newfound hope in their faces. He went under the plane pushing it up so it was horizontal. He took a moment before flying the plane to New Foundland. It wasn't the original destination but it was the closest piece of land. Not even he could have carried the entire plane all the way to the UK without causing some strain upon the metal and that was something he couldn't risk. It was always best to play it safe when it came to the lives of others. His presence there also served to get him a free lance piece in and a very strongly worded Email from the woman herself.

The next Arthur was struggling to bring boxes into his apartment. While in reality he would have no trouble at all people had to think he did. For all intents and purposes Arthur was a real human. He was raised by them, grew by them. "Need a hand there?" A man with long black hair asked standing next to the pale corridor wall.

"Yes please" he responded allowing the stranger to take half of the box. The two walked it down setting it onto a wooden table. "Arthur Kent" he stuck his hand out for the other man to shake.

"Cisco Ramone" he replied shaking Arthur's hand "your new neighbour" he finished.

"Ah. Miss Lane mentioned that she sold the apartment to a scientist".

"Yes. My field is tech more than anything".

"I like to dabble in science myself. I find it all far too interesting to pick a field to specialise in" he joked. Cisco looked at a wooden cabinet holding model spaceships.

"Is that a model of Voyager?"

"Yeah. I got the Falcon in one of these boxes somewhere" he mentioned absentmindedly gesturing to the many boxes littered throughout the room. Arthur had a love of all things involving aliens. It was sad but it made him feel less alone in this big, wide galaxy. Often he would wonder what his own people would think of Human Science Fiction.

"You know, I think we're going to be friends" Cisco said with a smile on his face.

One Week Later.

Arthur was heading out the door to find a new recruit for his newspaper the woman would be the first employee of the Daily Planet. "Hey Cisco" he said to the man in the corridor.

Cisco heard him and turned around "Hey, we still on for Return of The Jedi?" He said walking backwards while facing Arthur.

"Of course. I'll keep the waterworks to a minimum this time" he said making light of his habit of crying when the death star blows up Alderaan. The two became fast friends due to their shared love of science fiction "See you Cisco. Got to run". Arthur walked down the street, listening for trouble. It was a habit he had formed while being Superman. The easiest things to respond to were people screaming his name. In the cacophony of sounds that made up the world certain things like people screaming Superman registered more. He was grateful for it for he didn't want to turn up at every roller coaster ride every few few seconds.

Soon he arrived at Jitters, the place one Samantha Arias suggested the interview be conducted. He took his seat facing the brunette woman. The two shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. She was soon hired to write from her home in Metropolis allowing her to spend more time with her daughter, Ruby. As the interview was finished he left holding his brown briefcase. Things were looking up for him and the Daily Planet. A brown haired man around 24 entered greeting Iris. Arthur saw as Iris rushed to embrace him. She squealed as she did so "you're awake. Why didn't S.T.A.R. Labs call us?"

"I just woke up" he told her smiling wide. A look of concern flooded her face.

"Should you even be on your feet?" She asked him worriedly.

"Iris... I'm okay" he said laughing out of sheer happiness.

"I watched you die Barry" she said to him solemnly. Arthur stayed seated his ears hearing something they had never heard before. "You kept dying. Your heart kept stopping" Barry took hold of her hand placing it on his chest.

"It's still beating".

"It's really fast" Iris commented drawing Arthur's intrigue. The only hearts he heard beat so fast were not human. A blonde woman stepped backwards causing a waitress to trip. Barry stepped to the side and from his perspective it was if time had slowed down. Unbeknownst to the former coma patient Arthur noticed how quickly Barry moved. He would keep an eye on Barry. "You okay Tracy?" Iris asked.

"Yeah I got it" she replied. Arthur walked past the waitress and up to Iris.

"Hey Iris. Thanks for the coffees"

"Barry this is Arthur. Arthur this is Barry" Iris said placing a hand on both men's shoulders introducing them. "The one in a coma?" Arthur asked cautiously already knowing the answer.

"I just woke up" Barry told him still smiling.

"That's wonderful to hear" Arthur said properly facing Barry this time. He lowered his glasses taking note of Barry's heart.

"I definitely think so" Barry joked lightheartedly to the man causing his friend to chuckle.

"Perhaps introductions could be done properly another time?" Arthur asked tentatively.

"Sure" Iris said happy her friends were going to be friends. "My dad's going to be so happy to see you. Let me just get my stuff" she said barely stopping to breathe.

Barry smiled as he said "okay". He looked around confused as she walked away.

The two walked in silence for a few minutes neither really knowing what to say to the other. "So who was that? Anyone interesting?" Barry asked not knowing how he felt about the unfamiliar man.

"That's Arthur Kent he moved a week ago. He's a reporter. Even managed to interview Superman" she said somewhat jealously.

"Really?" Barry said incredulously while Iris hummed in agreement.

Arthur was flying he often did when he needed to think. It was enjoyable to have his head above the clouds and bathe in the sun's rays. Glass shattered and it wasn't like a football going through a window as he often heard. It was like a gale force wind pulling the glass. He dived as fast as he could Central City in his sights. He pushed himself faster, he landed cracking the ground beneath. He superspeeded into the bank ready for a fight. He looked at the damage. There were people cowering in the corners with no perpetrator in sight. That's when he saw it, two dead bodies. "Can somebody tell me what happened?" He asked in a voice so dissimilar to that of Arthur's it was unrecognisable. It wasn't that he was trying to disguise his voice more that he sounded confident. Not like some mild mannered reporter from a small town in Kansas.

"It was, mist from his hands. It pulled all the glass down" a young woman spoke up he looked around the room. It's occupants seemed to nod at her words. Police stormed into the bank fanning out interviewing the people. He heard a throat clear behind him.

"Um Mr. Superman" Arthur turned at the name. He still wasn't sure who decided to call him that. He saw a dark skinned man, maybe in his forties. A cop badge on his belt. "Yes?" He answered tearing his eyes away from the bodies.

"I don't suppose you know what happened?" Joe asked hopefully. He realised the answer when he saw the alien's expression.

"No. I. I wasn't quick enough. Now two people have lost their lives" he said regretfully. Joe seemed to understand exactly what he was thinking.

"I'm sure you did all you could" he assured him. Some grief and regret seemed to lift itself from his shoulders. His full range of hearing came back to him. He winced at first before slowly readjusting.

"Do you hear that?" He asked the human. Arthur walked and knelt down by the body of the young man. He could see and hear it clearly now. The man was alive, barely. Joe followed him. "He's still alive. Thank you detective West" Arthur gently scooped the man up into his arms. He flew gently making sure not to disturb the man's wounds. Joe looked into the sky as his partner approached him.

"You going to tell me what that was about?" Eddie asked.

"In the car" came the reply.

S.T.A.R. Labs

The three scientists and the CSI were on the S.T.A.R. Labs airstrip. The three were setting up equipment. "You don't believe he can run that fast. Do you?"

Caitlin asked the man in the wheel chair, disbelieving Barry's claims. "Well I believe anything is possible, and in a few minutes maybe you will too. You forget Dr. Snow we live in a world with a flying man who can catch planes as we would a ball" Wells said with a slight smirk. Caitlin blushed at not considering that.

"How does it fit?" Cisco asked Barry who was currently dressed in a cycling outfit and skater pads along with a helmet.

"It's a little snug" Barry retorted still smiling.

"At least you will be moving so fast no one will see you" Cisco joked. He patted Barry on the back as the moved towards the starting line. "See you thought the world was slowing down. It wasn't. You were moving so fast it only looked like everyone else was standing still. He explained. "Dr. Wells will be monitoring your energy and Caitlin your vitals" he said pointing at the respective doctors.

"What do you do?" He asked confused.

Cisco gasped in mock shock "I make the toys man". He reached to his pocket pulling out a disc with a lightning bolt. "Check it. This is a two way headset. With a camera I modified... Designed to combat battlefield impulse noise. Or in your case, potential sonic booms. Which would be awesome" he took Barry's helmet to modify it. Caitlin walked over with a pad in hand and a blank expression on her face.

"What?" She said focusing on her work.

"Nothing. I just notice you don't smile too much" Barry commented.

"My once promising career in bio engineering is over. My boss is in a wheel chair for life. The explosion that put you in a coma also killed my fiancé. So this blank expression kind of feels the way to go" she finished before walking away to the tent.

Arthur was walking down the street he had since changed into his normal clothes consisting of an oxford blue suit that hid his muscles. He had since managed to deliver the man to the hospital. He wouldn't be walking anytime soon but he would live. Car chase. He had his work cut out for him today. When he arrived he saw Barry stood across from Mardon. Fog erupted from around his hands. Arthur looked in surprise at this man's abilities as he stepped back into the fog. Fog was never a good thing on a busy road. He sped to a car that was approaching from behind stopping it with his hands. Another was out of control. His enhanced vision allowed him to see the car clearly. He grabbed onto the trunk of the car being pulled a few feet in the process. The car behind Barry exploded causing him to speed out the way. With an Arctic breath the fire was put out. He left only hearing Barry tell the detective that Mardon was alive and could control the weather.

As he entered his apartment he saw a little robot come to life. "Art In-Ze you have a message from mom along with 2 miss calls" Kelex Two said from where it was currently hovering above the table. "Redial please Kelex Two" he asked the flying robot. The phone rang out three times before she picked up. "Hello ma"

"Arthur Jonathan Kent" Arthur gulped at the use of his full name. "One week without a single call or visit" she chided her son.

"I'm really sorry" Arthur apologised, smiling upon hearing his mother's voice again.

"You should be" his mother told him.

"it's been a bit hectic. With everything going on"

"That's no excuse"

"I know. I know. I'll make sure to visit soon"

"How is the newspaper?"

"It's going. Not as fast as I'd like but certainly going" optimism ever present in his voice.

"Well that's nice to hear" Arthur heard beeping in the background "I've got to take a pie out the oven. Make sure you call soon young man" she chided her son.

"I will". Arthur hung up smiling. He looked at a message saying that Cisco couldn't make it. "Art In Ze. I have detected strange atmospheric readings coming from a farm on the outskirts of the city" it chirped. It seemed it was time to work. His mother's symbol could be seen on his chest as he unbuttoned the white shirt he was wearing. The red cape possessing the crest of his cousin swayed as he launched into the sky.

As Arthur reached the farm he saw a swirling tornado. His vision showed Mardon inside of it smirking at him. With one look at the cops, who were physically fine for the most part, he flew at Mardon only to be caught off guard by a lightning blast. He was sent flying backwards, twisting in the air to avoid impact on the ground. That was new? Some sort of Alien? He thought. Kelex and the Alura hologram told him of some races that had abilities but nothing came to mind. Another bolt of lightning was sent at him. Arthur's cape swayed with the wind as he darted to the right. Arthur took notice of the lightning bolt that he had just dodged. Lightning can have differing colours based on atmospheric conditions and the heat generated by the strike. But what he had just dodged was blackened. It was also quicker than the natural lightning he had seen in as a boy in Kansas.

He flew around the tornado firing laser beams only for each and every one of them to be met with lightning. It was if the lightning was attracted to the blasts. He dodged another lightning strike that was meant for his heart. The roof of the farm was ripped from it's place and was headed for the cops. Arthur turned to fly before seeing a streak of red, within that streak was a man clad in red leather. His X-ray vision revealed the man behind the mask. Barry grabbed the roof part sending it into the ground along with himself. Arthur repelled another piece of debris with laser vision. Barry looked at the tornado intimidated, yet still trying to hold his nerve.

"Barry. Barry this thing's getting closer. Wind speeds are 350 mph and increasing. Barry can you hear me?" Cisco asked early trying to make sure he was heard. Barry tapped his ear "loud and clear" he responded.

In S.T.A.R. Labs Cisco was tapping monitors "if this keeps up it is going to break the Fujita Scale". Barry looked up seeing Arthur launch himself into the air. Arthur was currently remembering his studies on tornadoes, the calmest part was the eye. If he could get high enough, he could strike from above. He had never been so happy for geography class. "It's headed for the city. How do I stop it?" no response came from S.T.A.R. Labs. "Guys?" Barry shouted worriedly.

Above Barry's head Arthur was making progress. He was about 100m below the top of the tornado funnel. Thunder crashed around him making Arthur use every bit of control he had. He dived to avoid lightning sending laser vision at lightning bolt coming from the side. He flew straight up making it into the eye of the tornado. He found he could control his flight much more easily. Taking the opportunity he dived like a falcon on it's prey landing a somewhat weak kick to Mardon's chest. He went through the tornado landing on the ground. Arthur looked at Barry "Mardon is down. The tornado has too much speed. What if I unravel it?"

"How the hell are you going to do that?" Caitlin said with a furrowed brow.

"I'll run around it in the opposite direction. Cut off it's legs." Barry said.

"He'd have to clock 900mph to do that" Cisco mentioned unsurely.

"Your body may not be able to handle those speeds you'll die." Caitlin told Barry without any trace of a bedside manner. Barry with new found confidence realised what he had to do "I have to try!" Barry took a breath and a look at Joe before putting his plan into action. Cisco began to laugh as he monitored the readings from Barry's suit "ha ha the suit's holding up". He rubbed his hands together in nervous excitement.

Caitlin looked across at Cisco as if he was insane "but he's not". Cisco focused on the readings nodding his head. He sincerely hoped his friend would be proven wrong. "he can do it I know he can do it". lightning from the storm knocked Barry back before Arthur could react. He had heard the plan so tried to put it into action he set down on the floor. He began running, as Arthur ran all else seemed to fade away.

"It's too strong" Barry said regaining his balance. Another voice spoke up surprising the two S.T.A.R. Labs scientists.

"You can do this, Barry. You were right. I am responsible for all of this. For everything. So many people have been hurt because of me. When I looked at you all I saw was another potential victim of my own hubris. And yes I created this madness. But you, Barry, you can stop it. You can do this" Wells was smiling now as he spoke his monologue filling both the scientists and speedster with hope. "Now run Barry. Run!" Barry began to run, electricity trailing behind him. His speed combined with Arthur's gradually slowing the tornado. Debris fell as it was no longer stuck in the tornado's grasp. From S.T.A.R. Labs the scientists saw the plan working. The readings were showing it slow down. A shock wave blew out as the tornado finally stopped. The scientists looked at each other in shock.

"Barry?" Caitlin spoke into the microphone. Both heroes were on the floor neither one of them thinking about the meta human criminal.

"It's done. It's over" Barry spoke into his com. Unknown to the heroes and the three scientists Mardon had got up with a gun in his hand. The blonde faced Barry pointing the gun at him. "I didn't think there was anyone else like me". Barry faced Mardon his cowl down, revealing his face. "I'm not like you. You're a murderer". Mardon smirked taking a step towards. Barry. Three bullets fired. The one from Mardon's gun hitting Arthur in the chest. The bullet ricochet from the alien's chest and into Mardon's. The other two from Joe's gun went into Mardon's shoulders.

"Barry?" Caitlin asked again.

"It's over this time. I'm okay". Wells and Caitlin looked at each other smiling in relief. Barry's breath became visible in the air as he fell to his knees. Joe continued towards him and fell to his knees joining the young CSI. From several meters away Arthur looked upon the duo. He smiled to himself seeing them together. He would be having words with Barry Allen at a later date but for now the two needed to talk and he would let them. He quietly rose into the air waiting on a Central City roof.

He waited on that roof for what seemed like hours before he saw the red streak approach the city. Arthur moved to intercept. He hovered just in front of Barry's path. "Barry Allen" came the soft yet powerful voice.

"You know who I am?" He asked.

"I know many things. I know what you are feeling. That you are invincible. That nothing in this world can stop you. Well you are not" he assured.

"I am using this to help people" the CSI countered.

"You are not a hero Mr. Allen"

"You're wrong. As long as I do what is right I am" he retorted as mild frustration began to build up.

"These so called meta humans are beyond you"

"Let's work together then. Teamwork makes the dream work, after all" Barry suggested hopefully.

"This is not a path you should tread lightly Mr. Allen" he warned the speedster before flying off. Barry was certainly no Bruce and that worried him for Bruce was a better man than he.

The next morning Joe and Barry were stood next to a car. Joe hadn't changed but Barry was back in civilian clothes. A medic was checking on Eddie and other members of the force were collecting samples. Joe looked somberly into the horizon "what you can do. It was the lightning bolt?" He asked, both men knew the meaning of his words.

Barry thought a brief moment "more or less".

Joe began shaking his head as he spoke to Barry "I'm sorry, Barry. I'm sorry I didn't believe you. An I called you crazy for chasing the impossible. But you really did see something that night your mom died" he confessed regretting what he had said to the younger man. Joe began wishing that he had listened every time Barry had tried to explain what he saw. "And your dad is innocent" Barry turned at Joe's words. Joe moved to stand in front of Barry holding onto his arms lightly, like a father and son. Joe adapted an even more serious tone and expression which Barry thought was impossible at the present moment. "I need you to promise me something." Barry could see the seriousness of the situation and trusted Joe implicitly as he had always done. "I don't want you telling Iris about anything you can do. Any of it" he clarified for Barry. "I want her safe. Promise me" he finished. Barry nodded understanding but not liking the situation. He always hated lying to Iris, it just didn't feel right not when he felt the way he did even though he wasn't exactly sure what that was.

The two were stood inside Barry's lab. Barry was eating an energy bar as he looked at Joe. "Go Barry" he insisted. While Barry wanted to go he knew that his CSI work was important. "Are you sure?" Barry asked uncertainly. Joe chuckled lightly at Barry.

"We can live without you for a few hours" he told him. Barry thanked Joe before leaving.

"ID" the guard said. Barry showed his drivers licence. "Signature" Barry wrote his signature on the line before taking his seat. His heart wrenched as he saw his father through the glass. He knew he was innocent but now he had proof unfortunately it was not enough proof for his father's freedom. "Hey, slugger" the older man said through the phone.

"You've been calling me that since I was 11" his father chuckled it was a rare sound given his situation.

"Funny thing is I finally got into a fight today". Concern flooded the older Allen's face.

"You just got out of a coma, I'm not sure you should be picking fights" Barry looked down smiling lightly. "Hey" there was a pregnant pause as he waited to finish his words "did you win?" He asked echoing words from years passed.

"Yeah, I did" Barry smiled causing his father to smile back. "You didn't kill mom" Barry said changing the direction of the conversation. Believing that his father had somehow convinced himself that he was guilty he asked him "You know that right?" Henry fiddled with the phone in his hand.

"You believing me is all I need"

"You won't be in there much longer"

"Whoever killed mom. Whatever killed her. I think I finally have a way to find them. To stop them" he declared.

"Barry we've talked about this. It's time to let go. You've got to stop worrying about me. And live your life" his father pleaded

"For the first time, I finally feel like I can. The truth is since mom died, I've been stuck in one place. I missed out on a lot of things. But I'm different now. I made some new friends. They are helping me find my way"

Inside S.T.A.R. Labs Cisco was fiddling with the suit, trying to add some pizzazz, some je ne sais qua. Caitlin walked to her friend "why is it shaped like a lightning bolt?" She asked Cisco confused.

"So it's not boring" Cisco responded not looking up from his work, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Caitlin smiled at her friend's antics.

"To finally move forward. You remember when you wanted me to change my name? So I wouldn't have to deal with people knowing you are my dad. I'm glad they know" he laughed with happiness, the thought of getting his dad back exciting him. It wasn't that Joe hadn't done right by him, in fact Joe was far better than most people had but he just wasn't Henry Allen.

"I'm so proud to be your son" a tear ran down Barry's face the emotions he was feeling making themselves known.

"I love you son".

"I love you to dad". They placed their hands on the glass.

Undisclosed Location:
The general walked into the room of the lab. White walls and unknown tech equipment lined the room. "Your work is most commendable. You have done a great service to your country, you as well Miss. Coates". He turned and left and over his shoulder a cylindrical tank could be seen with a fluid possessing a green tinge. A dark mass was hidden inside of it.

A/n:
As you can tell this is superman with a different name on the earth of the Flash.

Mardon was made more powerful in order to have a story that wasn't over in a matter of seconds.