Shortly after my successful apprehension of the sci-fi gunmen, the Fawcett City Police Department arrived on scene to arrest the men and bring them to the station for questioning. Two detectives came down to inspect the scene before heading back with the uniform officers, and I was surprised to see Officer Mark Durant dressed in a windbreaker jacket with FCPD written on the back, a dark blue button up and dark red tie, black slacks and red Bruno Marc shoe's. His badge was hanging around his neck, and I could see with my enhanced vision that it said detective.
He's been taking statements with his partner, a Latin woman with dark, short, hair that reaches her shoulders, rich brown eyes, and she's wearing a white blouse with the same jacket as Mark, grey slacks, and comfortable shoes. Not one of those "I'll just run in heels all day" types from what I can tell. Anyway, while they are making their rounds, I'm making sure people are okay, and I'm taking pictures with kids and fans that are asking. Everybody is being really sweet, which makes me feel awkward, but I'm also happy they are enjoying themselves rather than being scared like they were when those assholes were opening fire in the middle of the street.
"Hey, Cap! Can you say happy birthday to my big sister? She's home sick right now, but she's a huge fan!" A teenage boy walks up to me with his phone out and holds it low, avoiding sticking it in my face. I'm amazed at the manners the young man has and I nod enthusiastically at his request.
"Absolutely!" The kid holds his phone up and gives me the queue when the video starts. "Hi... uh, you never told me her name." The kid laughs and smacks himself in the forehead with his freehand.
"Damn it! Sorry, Cap. Her name is Ashley." I smile and nod.
"Don't sweat it kid. A lot of people are excited when they get to see me close up. It's strange really. Not used to it yet." He nods as I take a moment to reorganize my thoughts and what I'm going to say to Ashley. I clear my throat when I'm ready, just for emphasis. "Hi, Ashley! I hear you're home sick on your birthday, which sucks, so here's to having a magical birthday anyway, wished for by a Magic's Champion. Oh, and if you think you're brother is pranking you..." I lift my hands and form a ball of lightning in my hand and toss it between my hands like a baseball, while simultaneously flying about two feet off the ground. "...here's proof that I'm the real deal."
"That is SO COOL!" The kid ends the video and puts his phone away as he walks up to me. I disperse the lightning and land in front of him as he offers his hand to me, which I take. "Thanks a lot Cap. Name's Daniel by the way. Ashley is going to love this! You're the sickest hero ever. I honestly think you're better than Superman!" I nearly lift the kid off the ground with how enthusiastic I am about shaking his hand after hearing that comment.
"Daniel. You're officially the best fan ever." He beams at me after I spit that out. "You don't understand how much I've heard the 'Magical Superman' stuff. It's an honour being put in the same league as The Man of Steel, don't get me wrong, but oh boy am I tired of being compared to him." Seriously, I can respect what he's done for Earth, despite being an Alien and not owing us anything, but I don't want to be put in the same boat as him. It can lead to a misrepresentation of what I can do, and more importantly, who I am. Not to mention off balancing the public's expectations of how I will act or handle any given crisis.
"Oh, I'll be sure to tell Ashley I'm your favourite fan. She'll be so je-"
"Captain Marvel?" Interrupting Daniel's sinister-sibling-scheme to make his sister ill with envy as opposed to whatever bug she has, is none other than the Latina detective and Mark Durant himself. I get a little nervous about talking to them, so far the only people I've interacted with as both Billy and Captain Marvel are people I'm not that close to. Save for Zoe, but she's basically the only person that knows the truth about my identity.
"Excuse me a moment officers. I'm not intending on being rude to this boy here. He's taken time out of his day to express his enthusiasm and to capture a video for his sister." Both Mark and the woman give each other a look, while the woman sighs, Mark smirks.
"We'll wait." I nod.
"Thank you." Turning back to Daniel, I lift two of my fingers up to my forehead in a casual salute. "It was nice meeting you Daniel. You have my permission to tease your sister about this exchange lightly. Don't make her too upset. She is sick, and your sister after all." He chuckles as he shakes his head.
"Oh no way. This is payback for the time she put our cat's litter box under my bed as a prank. I couldn't figure out why my room smelled so bad for longer than I care to admit." I laugh, imagining his frantic panic that his room just smelled like he was in the cat's litter box every time he went to sleep. He lifts his fingers up and returns the mock salute before turning away. "Thanks again, Cap. We're all lucky to have you protecting Fawcett!"
That took me by surprise. I understood the want to express appreciation, and I've managed to come around to the idea of wanting to take pictures or videos with me, but to think of me in such a way... lucky to have me? I don't think I've ever believed anybody felt that way about me. Ever.
"Captain?" Turning around, I see that the Latina woman is addressing me, and I blink away the tear that was threatening to spill out. It's time to get down to business.
"Yes. Sorry, Officer...?" She keeps a stoic look on her face, my choice of calling her officer as opposed to detective being equal parts a test of her patience and... quite frankly the fact that I'm not sure how this police hierarchy actually works. I've only ever seen it in movies and TV shows.
"I'm Detective Selina Torres, this is my partner, Detective Mark Durant." I offer my hand to both of them, nervous about shaking Mark's. He seems to be studying me, and unlike Torres's stoic demeanour, Mark looks a bit anxious. "We have a few questions for you about your fight with the gunmen."
"Of course. Always happy to help." She nods, placing her hands on her hips, and her brow shifts slightly, making me a little uneasy.
She's gone from introduction to interrogation in a heartbeat. She's a veteran at this. Solomon chime's.
"A few of the locals report that a lightning bolt came out of the sky before you arrived on the scene."
"Common occurrence these days. People know that when lightning strikes, especially on a clear day like today, I'm about to make an entrance." She nods as Mark shifts his weight, crossing his arms and addresses me directly.
"Do you live around here?" That almost sounded more like a statement. How could he possibly know that?
"No. I was in the area."
"Do you mind if we ask what you were doing before arriving on the scene?" Oh shit, they do normally ask these questions. Think Billy, think.
"Working." So clever dumb ass.
It'll do. Don't elaborate too much, just give necessary information.
'Okay. Thanks Solomon.'
"What do you do?" Mark asks.
"Not going to answer that. It's not illegal if you're wondering."
"Any more illegal than vigilantism?" What? Detective Torres seems somewhat miffed at hearing Mark say that, but doesn't seem surprised at all that he did.
"Sorry?"
"Ignore him. If he's not going to ask pertinent questions about the current case, then he is not worth listening too." Jesus. Selina Torres going for the throat. Mark seems to be pissy about this entire interaction, and I can't help but feel he doesn't like Captain Marvel.
"Uh... okay." I don't really know what else to say about that. I'm... I don't know. I don't like the way I feel about this.
"So, secret identity includes secret place of residence and place of work. That's fair. When you arrived, what did you see?" I give a side long look to Mark, who meets my gaze for awhile, a bitterness behind his icy green orbs, before he turns away. Solomon and Achilles nudge me into focusing on Torres and her questions, and I do my best to do so.
"Well, I saw these five guys in armour shooting lasers from these weird sci-fi rods at the Bryer Gang in the middle of the street. Not sure what the point in that was, because all that ended up happening was me putting the smack down on them. Respectfully." She remains stoic as ever, making it really hard to read her. She continues her questions without skipping a beat.
"Is it true that they managed to hurt you with these weapons?"
"Depends on your meaning. They didn't do any major damage to me, but I definitely felt it. If you were to shoot me with your service pistol, the magical essence that makes this form will send signals to me, allowing me to acknowledge I'm being attacked, or used for target practice, but I would barely feelit at all. In fact, I wouldn't. Those rods are kind of nasty, though."
"Hm." Torres contemplates something for a moment, almost like she's looking past me, before nodding her head. "First time that's been witnessed by anybody. Still, apparently it took six shots to knock you off your feet." I nearly open my big mouth to confirm her information, but Solomon tells me to be patient and think about my responses before speaking. That I don't need to rush things in conversation to appear intelligent. Swift responses are not always the wisest.
I, of course, notice it immediately after Solomon tells me to stop and think. She tried to get me to reveal that a sixth person was here. I've been listening to everybody give the detectives and uniform officers their statements, and they've all kept the secret of Jason's involvement. Despite him opening fire in the middle of the street, I showed compassion, and they felt inspired to follow suit. Forgiving the stupid kid that was desperate to help his family. I think what I'm feeling is pride. Pride in the people of my city for looking out for each other. I quickly shove it aside however to focus on the task at hand. I was distracted because of my initial exchange with Mark and his demeanour. I don't want to slip up.
"No, it was five. And yes, it knocked me off my feet. Hence the reason I balled up their weapons. A little too dangerous to be in just anybody's hands." Quite frankly, I don't know how she knows there was six shooters, or how she figured it out. I know nobody here has let the cat out of the bag, not even the thugs themselves. It's not how gangs operate. Criminals rather get their own justice, and I'm certain a few of them will look for Jason. I'll be around to scare them off, and eventually, they'll give up. If not... well I'll have to consider going the extreme route, but I don't know that I want to do that unless it's absolutely necessary.
The other reason I'm confused about how she suspects there was one other is that I hid Jason's equipment in my apartment, intending on bringing it to a specialist, or maybe to the Justice League. They've probably dealt with tech like this before. At least I'd imagine Green Lantern has.
"Yes, well, in the future, we would appreciate if you left evidence undamaged, if at all possible." Her stoicism never fades from her face, but her glimmering eyes tell me she's annoyed at the situation. Making it clear that I've made her job harder.
"Will do my best, Detective."
"Good. Now, did they mention who they maybe working for?"
"No."
"Did they do any boasting about how many more weapons like theirs are out there, or where they even got them from?" She most likely knows I don't have the answer to all of her questions, but I can appreciate that she's covering her bases, just in case.
Something seems... odd... about her. Solomon's observation bemuses me.
'Really? She seems pretty normal for a veteran cop. Not bothered by very much and direct to the point. If she was friendly, I'd assume she was in on the whole thing.'
Not all spies act the same Billy.
'Yeah I kno-wait. Are you telling me she's a spy? For who?'
No, I'm just... lamenting. Something is-
'Odd, I know. It was five seconds ago.' I hear a sigh before I chuckle to myself. 'Don't worry, I'll keep my eyes open.'
"No, they told me nothing. However, I do know that the tech is from a place called Apokolips." Mark raises an eyebrow and I get the sense that Det. Torres is upset about this info.
"You over hear them talking to each other when they thought you weren't listening?"
She seems to be a bit upset.
'Yeah? I mean, I can barely read her. She's got a good poker face if that's the case. Mark seems more upset than she is.'
Maybe they know something we don't. Technically, Captain Marvel isn't an official member of government authority, so they likely won't share that info with you.
'Stupid. I can help them.'
Billy, be calm. We'll figure this out, one way or another.
'Yeah... yeah I know. I'll pay more attention to her actions and words, see if anything strikes me as odd. Glad you're backing me up though.'
Of course. It's what I'm here for.
"No. Wisdom of Solomon." Both detectives look at each other, as if seeing if their partner has any idea what I'm talking about.
"Sooo... you're a scholar of some sort?" Torres asks.
"Wasn't he Jewish?" Mark questions.
"Yeah, Jewish King from over a millennium ago. Only non-god apart of my power set... well, technically. I'm not sure if Atlas is just a Titan or considered a God-Titan... Titan-God? Whatever. I just know things. That's all."
"Okay, moving on. Where's Apokolips?" Mark asks. I think about it and think about it, but Solomon and I come up with nothing.
"Hard to say. I think Apokolips is a planet, but getting there is more akin to travelling to another dimension, like going from here to Olympus or Hades, as opposed to flying to space and landing on Mars. You don't just simply wish to go there and make it either. Cerberus guards the gates of Hades, insuring no living thing can enter, and Olympus... well it's not just on top of some mountain in Greece. You have to go through a very specific path and meet certain requirements, normally being invited, or an actual God, in order to get there."
"Or like how Asgard and the Nine Realms are connected by the Bifrost." Torres speaks up. I give her a grin and nod my head.
"Somebody knows their mythology."
"I've done some light reading. So you're saying that it's reasonable to believe that getting there is likely impossible without being invited, or by some other means." I nod, and she sighs, almost looking relieved. Maybe she is more scared of what's going on here than she's been letting on. Only fair, considering how under equipped humanity is in comparison to many other species in the Universe.
"Well that doesn't help us. If their supplier is some evil deity from a planet that is named after the end of the world, then we are royally fucked." Mark's demeanour went from being anxious and agitated, to exhausted. Placing his right hand over his face and rubbing his eyes, lowering and shaking his head. I recognize that pose. He's frustrated and tired of being frustrated.
"How long have you guys been working this case?"
Good catch.
"A few weeks." Mark blurts out. Torres gives him a stern look, which he can apparently feel, because he stopped rubbing his eyes only after she looked at him, and he slowly looked up over his hand to make eye contact. When he removes his hand, he reveals the classic Mark Durant I don't have anymore fucks to give facial expression matched with a shoulder shrug. "What? He's supposedly the Champion of Magic. We don't have anything that can stop him from investigating this situation himself." Torres groans, the first time she's expressing any kind of real irritation. She may as well be screaming, in comparison to her demeanour before.
"He has a point. This is my field of expertise... well, sort of. I'm also going to be more capable of taking whatever they throw at me." Torres slides her gaze over to me, and glowers at me. "You can look at me like that all you want, my mom was scarier than you." A smirk slides across her face, before it quickly fades and she sighs.
"Fine." Looking around, she assures that nobody is nearby before leaning forward.
Ooo. Secrets. Mercury's enthusiasm is as palpable as my own. Maybe she is a spy.
"We think these guys are linked to, or are actual members of, Intergang."
"Intergang? Aren't they a Metropolis based Crime Syndicate?"
"Yes. Not just that, they are equipped with alien tech when they go out to take care of business. They sometimes sell lower grade stuff to other gangs, but a lot of the time it's to absorb them into their own umbrella." Mark chimes in.
"Last month, the word on the street was that a group of aliens were spotted somewhere in Fawcett, setting up shop. We thought it was nothing, considering nobody speaking on the matter ever seemed to know where exactly these guys were nesting."
"So, you've been on their trail for a whole month? I doubt top brass would have let you guys continue an investigation with no evidence of anything ever happening." I knew as I was saying it that it was likely that something has happened that I missed.
"Some of our informants have mentioned that some of their old crew have gone missing. These same people have mostly turned up dead, but some have been inducted into the gang. One of the men here today is a Nicholas Perry. He was a high-ranking enforcer for the Biker Gang known as The Devil's Rejects, before he went missing. Now he's wearing gear that fits the description of both the alien sightings and Intergang, and we'd like to know why he jumped ship."
"Well, it seems like they are moving in to Fawcett." I state plainly.
"Yes, but why now? Why only after you show up, do they start coming out of the woodwork?" I don't like the way Mark said that.
'What is his problem?'
Some may view your strength as an automatic invitation for challengers to travel to Fawcett City, bringing Chaos in their wake.
'That's stupid. I was given these powers because some asshole with similar powers is on his way to Earth. Not just for shits and giggles.'
"You saying my existence is inviting all this chaos to Fawcett, Detective?" He gives me a stern look.
"Maybe I am." On any other day I'd applaud Mark for having the balls to talk to somebody as powerful as me like this. Only problem is that it's me, and that he's completely ignorant to why I have powers in the first place.
Remain calm Billy.
'I am calm.'
He doesn't know anything about the circumstances that made you Captain Marvel. Don't hold that against him. Just let him know a little bit. Don't have to tell him everything, unless you want to.
"Just so you're aware, Det. Durant, I was chosen as Magic's Champion, because the guy who was supposed to get this gig 5000 years ago proved himself an asshole and got himself banished from Earth. According to the Wizard that gave me my powers, he's on his way back here, and I need to be around to stop him. So if anything, it's the dangers of the magical world that made it necessary for somebody like me to exist. Not the other way around." He and I stare each other down for awhile before Det. Torres interjects.
"There's a good chance that Intergang has mainly focused their efforts in other cities due to Fawcett being one of the cities that used to have the lowest crime rate in America." Wait, what? I didn't know that.
"It almost seems like five years ago is when things started getting worse. No new players or anything like that. Things just started to slowly roll down hill, until about, what? A year or two ago? Then it snowballed." Mark stated.
"You make it sound like we were a utopia." I question the likelihood of this, though to be honest, my memories from before... well they aren't usually about anything in particular. Much of my life seems like a blur now. Besides, I would have been too young to really know any better or pay attention to such things.
"We weren't. Durant is simply being nostalgic. We still had plenty of crime, there just wasn't as many loose cannons or drug addicts running around. Now, the whole East Side, especially Beckville, is considered unsafe for women and children after dark." Torres replies.
"Crazy to think that things changed so drastically." This just reaffirms that I need to be a vigilante, and try my best at cleaning this place up. I want people to feel safe again. Maybe this is why they respond so well to me. I haven't killed anybody, and I do my best to show kindness and understanding to everyone. Even if I don't really want to. It's what my parents would want. I'll be damned if I don't uphold their values and honour their memory.
"That's how cities tend to turn out after all. They get too big, too many people come through and eventually too much slip through the cracks."
"I'll do my best to help however I can." Both detectives give me a blank look, likely studying me, before Mark frowns and grumbles to himself. I don't bother trying to pick it up. He's entitled to his privacy. Torres on the other hand, seems hellbent on keeping her true feelings hidden, remaining stoic through out the majority of this conversation. Until just now as she starts to smile.
"If you really mean that, then maybe you should go to Metropolis and ask Superman for info on Intergang."
"Me? Why? I can handle this myself." Seriously? First the comparison to our Kryptonian Hero, and now directly implying I need his help.
I don't think that's how she intended her suggestion to sound, Billy.
"I'm sure you can, Champion of Machismo, but asking the Man of Steel himself about his experience with Intergang and any knowledge he has on them, would be beneficial to all of us when investigating and fighting them. Wouldn't you think?"
She has a point.
'You were acting suspicious of her ten seconds ago.'
Doesn't mean she's wrong.
'Uh-huh.'
"Fine. I'll go stop by Metropolis and ask Superman all about Intergang." Torres breathes a quiet sigh of relief. Unnoticeable to Mark, but I catch it. Mark just claps his hands together.
"Excellent. When are you going?" I slowly lift myself off the ground.
"May as well go right now. Cause, you know, we're all just assuming that Supes is going to be there."
"I mean... he usually is." Mark responds.
"Even if he is half-way around the world, with his supposed super hearing, you could probably just yell for him and he'll come running." Torres does make a good point. Though, that leads me to wonder... does he actually hear everything that's going on in the world? I'll have to ask. The implications of that are... I don't think I'd want that level of super hearing.
"I'm sure he'll be there, fighting some super villain of the weak." Mark states confidently.
"He's not here."
"I'd say by the state Metropolis was in when I got here, that would have to be a given. I highly doubt that one of the most respected and revered superheroes on the planet would let the city he operates the most in, fall to this state. Just to be clear though, what do you mean he's not here, Jimmy?"
"I mean that he apparently had some business in space. Something about an endangered species on a doomed planet in another galaxy. That type of Crisis truly hits home for him, you know?" Right. Alien from a doomed planet sent to Earth in hopes of saving his life.
"Crap Baskets." The flight over to Metropolis wasn't much of a problem at all. I didn't race over, took my time, and ended up stopping in to a couple of places along the way to help where I was needed. Only took me an hour to get here.
Of course, when I arrived, I ended up stopping two separate bank robberies, that were happening at the same time, on opposite sides of the city. Then I helped people that were trapped in an apartment building that was on fire, and I noticed evidence of arson. I handed it over to the authorities and they thanked me for the help. Luckily, nobody got hurt in either scenario. Of course, after about another hour of me running around, putting out fires, both literally and metaphorically, I found myself begging the question. Where the blazes is Superman?
So, I got to asking around. Despite being a junior journalist in training, I wasn't sure where to start. I've only driven through Metropolis with my parents while visiting family, and I was too young to remember much about the trip. I've yet to come here as Captain Marvel, so I don't know who's who and... well it was a little overwhelming. The city is nearly twice the size of Fawcett, but something I've noticed is that it's more packed in. City of Tomorrow. Skyscrapers that are so numerous and so tall, that I wonder how people live like this. Looking down on the city from the sky, it looks like a rat maze. Not to say I view the people below as rats, but more so that I'm beginning to question why mankind decided concrete jungles were the choice instead of living on the land like we used to. Things I'll have to figure out as I get older I guess.
Anyway, I started asking just about anybody if they have seen Superman recently, and most of them said that he's been around a little more infrequently than he normally is. They assumed there was major stuff going on with the League, so the city, for the most part, wished him well and hoped he'd soon return full time. Eventually, I felt this pull, almost like Zoe grabbing my hand and trying to drag me to something she found. Ended up running into this red-headed photographer, cameraman, and journalist for the Daily Planet. James Olsen. Goes by Jimmy. He asked me to pick him up and head over to the Daily Planet, in order to talk on the roof in private. Now I know why.
"Listen, I don't want to make you uncomfortable by jumping straight into journalism mode, so I'll keep anything you say here off record. That said, I have to ask, why are you looking for him?" Jimmy's camera is hanging around his neck with a thick strap. He's wearing a brown, light coat, with a dark green sweater vest on underneath, dark stone washed jeans, and sneakers. The ginger man has to be in his mid 20's. He somehow manages to pull off looking like a dweeb and a cool cat all in one.
"Jimmy, don't make promises like that to the Champion of Magic." A silky, yet abrasive, feminine voice comes from the door leading into the Daily Planet. Jimmy slouches his shoulders and groans, while I slightly turn my head and look across the rooftop to see none other than Daily Planet's number one reporter.
"Damn it, Lois. Look at him. The guy has been helping out around the city without even being asked or told to by anybody. Superman would love him. Cut him some slack." Lois walks across the rooftop. She's wearing a semi-loose, purple, sleeveless blouse, with a grey formal coat, and matching pants. The click clack of her formal, black, heels is heard as she struts her way across the roof. Something about her seems odd. She seems pretty athletic, likely keeps herself in tip top condition so that she can actually physically chase leads, yet her stomach looks...
Just congratulate her. Oh. Before I can say anything however, she begins speaking to Jimmy when she reaches the halfway point between the door and us.
"Jimmy. Captain Marvel is from Fawcett City. You know what that means?" Jimmy sighs and nods his head.
"It means that competing news-media from Fawcett has first crack at him nearly every time he farts." Jimmy's exasperated tone reminds me of some of the Lost and Found kids reciting a lecture they've heard hundreds of times.
"That's not how I said that to you, but yes. We have a duty as journaliststo chase the story. Follow leads. Despite the size of our city, word travels fast in Metropolis. At least when it comes to caped crusaders. I of course was lucky enough to be in Perry's office when you both flew here. On my way up to meet you, I had only one question in my head. Captain Marvel has come to Metropolis..." At this point she turns to me with a smile and an outstretched hand. "...and I intend on asking him; Why? Lois Lane- uh, Kent. Daily Planet." I grin, admiring her moxie, and reach out to shake her hand.
"Captain Marvel. Pleasure meeting you. I have to ask, did you forget your last name?" I joke.
"No. I'm married. Just happened. Four months ago. I've been doing the journalist gig for a lot longer. So, introducing myself with my maiden name has proven to be a tough habit to break. Most of the time I don't bother correcting myself, but I felt it prudent to do so this time." I scratch my head.
"Does your husband insist on you using his last name?" Lois tilts her head to the side and gives me a curious look.
"No. He actually is very big on giving me room to make my own decisions where it's necessary, and making decisions together for nearly everything else. As couples do. Why?" I take the finger I was using to scratch my head and begin tapping my chin.
"What if you just used Lane as your professional name, and in every other aspect of life, use Kent. I mean, most people are going to know you as Lois Lane anyway, given the fact that you are pretty well renowned for your journalism. This way you can do both. Lois Lane to the public when working, and if anybody gets a little too... forward with you, you can just tell them 'That's Lois Kent to you, mister' and then proceed to tell them your pregnant with Mr. Kent's kid. Congrats by the way." Lois scowls at me, while Jimmy's jaw drops, looking between the both of us with surprise.
' .'
She hasn't told anybody yet.
'Well I don't blame her, she is barely showing. I mean I don't know how I even noticed.'
You sensed another presence.
'Oh please don't tell me we are going to get into the topic of whether or not an unborn child is a living creature. I get a headache every time I listen to the politically obsessed, relentlessly argue about it with each other.'
No, we aren't. I'm not going to say anything other than you felt the creation process of a new soul.
'...'
Solomon, buddy. You really need to work on giving Billy a warning before you go and shatter his knowledge of reality with information like that. I barely register Mercury's words as I process what Solomon just said to me.
I swear I can hear the Jewish King laughing quietly to himself.
"You got microscopic vision too? Are you Kryptonian?" I can feel my eyelid twitch a little. Not only are they comparing me to him, but now they are assuming I'm the same species.
"No. I'm not anything like him. At least not as far as I know when it comes to my origins and my powers. I'm human. My powers come from magic. In fact, it comes from the source of magic." Lois's eyebrow quirks as does the corner of her mouth. Her smirk making me realize that I slipped up and gave more than I ever allowed myself to reveal as Billy on WHIZ Radio. "But that's information I'd like to keep off the record. I don't need non-magical villains suddenly trying to find the place my powers came from so that they can try and get some of it for themselves."
"Why's that?" Jimmy, being distracted from the big reveal just seconds ago, asks turning his attention back to me. "I mean, you're pretty damn strong. You'd probably be able to handle it."
"Just because I can fight, doesn't mean I want to. I only use my powers to fight the kind of battles people like you, never could." Lois drops her smirk and adorns a gaze of recognition. There's the slightest bit of adoration in there, but I'm not sure if it's for me, or for whatever, or whoever, I just reminded her of.
"You fight for those that can't fight for themselves." I nod at her paraphrasing and she smiles warmly. "I actually like the way you said it. It separates you from him, not just in power set and look, but in character. You may have similar values, but they were clearly learned through different experiences."
"Perhaps. I won't know until I meet him." She nods.
"So is it alright if I ask you what is truly different between your powers and his? You said magic, but give me an example.
"What kind of example are you looking for?"
"Well, Superman can carry planes, and even entire buildings with his strength. Both things should-"
"Crumble under their own weight while he's applying force to lift them. I don't know how he does it, but for me, I have a magical barrier that acts as a form of tactile telekinesis. Anything I catch, grab, carry, will have this barrier formed around it, and that goes for people to. That's how I can protect them from how fast I can move them out of danger, and it's how I can specifically carry buildings and planes and the like." Lois nods.
"So you both have tactile telekinesis, but it stems from a different source. Still based on your will I'd imagine." I never would have guessed he also had tactile telekinesis. It makes sense, of course, since it's the only way logically he can perform some of the feats of strength he has in the near decade he's been active. I wonder how he does it though. Hell, I wonder how long it took him to figure out he could do it.
"I think it might be safe to assume that The Last Son of Krypton has similar physical abilities as The Champion of Magic." Lois continues. "However, my interest now lies in how different these, and your other abilities, are." I sigh, clearly not going to get what I need until she gets what she wants. An exclusive.
"Listen. I'll tell you, but you can't be revealing my secrets to the wor-"
"This isn't my first rodeo with superheroes Captain. I'm some what offended that you would suggest I would be that careless." She crosses her arms and turns to the side, switching her view from me to the Daily Planet statue of Earth.
"I'm not suggesting anything about your professionalism or ethics, Mrs. Kent. I'm just being careful. That's all." Lois looks to Jimmy, who gives her a pleading look, and seems to think something over, while she starts pacing back and forth on the roof.
"So, why are you here?" She asks.
"He's here for Superman." Jimmy cuts in. "I've already told him about our friend's mission in space." Lois stops and nods.
"Why did you want to see him?" I nod, reaching my hand into my shoulder cape, which is draped around my left arm currently, and perform a new trick I learned by mistake. Like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, I pull the rod those possible Intergang goons were using in Fawcett.
Both Lois and Jimmy both look bewildered by what I just did, and I can't help but grin, knowing that Superman clearly has never done anything like that before. After their initial shock, Lois is the first to quickly regain her composure and launches into interview mode.
"Okay. Better question. What are you doing with an Energy Truncheon?"
"So that's what these are called. I've just been calling it a weird alien rod."
"Did you beat up some Intergang goons before running into good ol' Jimmy here?" I shake my head.
"Does Intergang wear light-purple armour, head-to-toe, hot pink visors, and wield these as their weapons?" She nods. "Then maybe I was fighting Intergang, but it was in my neck of the woods." Both her eyebrows shot up.
"I knew they were a National Crime Syndicate, but I thought Fawcett was one of the few major cities in the U.S that were untouched by them."
"It was, until recently. Fawcett City Police have been trying to locate them for a while now, based on anonymous tips about aliens, and missing persons showing up with gear similar to this. They launched an attack on the Bryer Gang in Beckville, which caught my attention. Learned the hard way these things pack a punch, but nothing I couldn't handle." Lois looks from the weapon and back to me.
"So, this thing hurts you too?"
"Too?"
"Depending on the settings, the ET's can hurt Superman, and cause him great pain. None have been able to kill him, but according to him, they seem to bypass his natural invulnerability." Hmm.
"Do they cause him permanent injury?" She shrugs.
"I've never heard of anybody truly capable of taking a blow from Apokoliptian weaponry, and just standing up afterwards." A grin spreads across my face.
"How many does it normally take to hurt him?" Lois taps her finger to her chin, and furrows her brow.
"Just one. Why?" I'm more resilient than Superman it seems.
"It took five to knock me off my feet and cause me any pain. Even then, it only hurt for a brief moment. Like stubbing your toe on a freezing cold day. The pain passed quickly. There was no structural damage done. I stood up right after and disarmed all six men before wrapping them up and waiting for the police." Again, shock and awe display themselves on Lois and Jimmy's face, respectively.
"That's incredible!" Jimmy shouts.
"I can't believe it." Lois mumbles to herself. "How?"
"Like you said, safe to assume that Superman and I are similar in physical capabilities, so long as you are using the simplest and rudimentary understanding of the terms. Super strength, Super speed, Invulnerability, Super senses, flight... but does he need to eat sleep or breathe? The major differences come when you start looking at the finer details. However, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter."
"Why's that?" Lois asks.
"We are on the same side... at least... I believe we are. If anything, we would just bolster each other when the world needs us to defend them." The renowned reporter has an approving smile grace her lips, and Jimmy lifts his camera, and asks me for a picture.
I slip the truncheon back under my cape and into the magical pocket dimension I can use to store certain objects. I think about it, before agreeing, almost placing my hands on my hips, the way Superman does, but I think twice about it as I look at the statue of the Daily Planet. I head over to stand underneath it, making it look like I'm lifting it up on my shoulders, similar to how Atlas is sometimes depicted. I then splay a cocky grin on my face as I think again to change it to me holding the thing with one hand above my head, as if the world couldn't be safer with me around. I use my left hand to "hold" the world above my head, and flex my right one, and just as I do, the wind picks up, causing my cape to billow to the left. Picture perfect.
Jimmy's camera flashes a few times, and Lois takes out a note pad, furiously scribbling down notes. I swap my poses every so often for fun, and Jimmy laughs at some of my antics. Using just one finger, making it look like I'm about to spin the planet like a basketball. Flying upside down and place my feet up to make it look like I'm walking on a very small planet. Going spread eagle under the planet, having it pressed against my body like it was falling on me, making a disgruntled face in the process, and then the original pose with it on my shoulders. The goofing around is halted when Lois calls out to me.
"I use my powers to fight the battles, that you never could. Is it okay if I quote that?"
"That's more of a paraphrase, but it's accurate enough that I'll allow it." Flying down to Jimmy, he shows me the pictures he took and out of all of them I definitely preferred the first one.
"Holding the planet above your head, one-handed. I agree in terms of being impressive, but I love these other photos. Shows how silly you can be." I nod.
"Yes, well, maybe you can add them as bonus photos on your website or something. If this is going to be front page, I'd prefer that one." He nods.
"Sure thing." I extend my hand to Jimmy, and he brims with pride when he shakes it. I suppose that makes two great heroes he's been able to shake hands with. Turning to Lois, I shake her hand again.
"Well, do you have any information for me, or should I go hunting alone." Pulling out her phone she dials a number, and puts it on speaker.
"Hello?" A grizzled voice comes through on the other end.
"Dan. You'll never guess who's come to Metropolis to aid you in your hunt for Mannheim."