Chapter 7: "The Coming Storm"

Deep beneath Vought Tower – The Asset Unleashed

The containment unit's lights flickered as the asset—Vought's most dangerous creation yet—moved, testing the limits of its restraints. Scientists scrambled to check readings and secure fail-safes, knowing full well that what they had created was far beyond anything they could control if things went wrong. The creature's glowing eyes pierced through the dimly lit chamber, and it let out a low growl that reverberated through the steel walls.

Stan Edgar watched silently from behind the reinforced observation glass, his hands folded neatly behind his back. Next to him, a lead scientist nervously fidgeted with a clipboard, eyes darting between the readouts and the asset's looming figure.

"The enhancements have made it faster, stronger... practically indestructible," the scientist explained, his voice trembling. "It should be more than a match for Superman. But..."

Edgar's gaze shifted to the scientist, his expression unchanging. "But what?"

The scientist swallowed hard. "We're... still uncertain about the psychological effects. It has been isolated for a long time. We've enhanced its aggression, its combat instincts, but... controlling it, once it's unleashed—"

Edgar's voice cut through the scientist's concerns like a knife. "That won't be your problem."

The scientist blinked in confusion. "Sir?"

Edgar turned to face the massive figure within the containment unit. "Once this asset is unleashed, control will no longer be the issue. Its sole purpose is to neutralize Superman. Nothing else matters."

With a nod to the guards, Edgar stepped away from the glass, walking toward the exit of the observation room.

"Release it."

The scientist froze, eyes widening in shock. "But sir, it's not fully—"

"Do it," Edgar ordered, his tone icy.

The guards moved quickly, unlocking the override systems. The containment unit hissed as the steel doors began to open, revealing the towering figure inside. Its muscles tensed, and for a moment, the room was filled with an eerie silence.

Then the creature took its first step forward, the ground shaking beneath its weight. The air seemed to grow heavier as the asset finally emerged into the open, its glowing eyes fixated on the door ahead. It had been trained for one purpose and one purpose only: to destroy Superman.

And it was ready.


Superman's Flight – Midtown Manhattan

As Superman flew over the city, the cries for help from below grew louder. He zeroed in on the source, his keen vision spotting the chaos unfolding in Midtown Manhattan. A building had been reduced to rubble, the result of an explosion. Civilians were trapped beneath the debris, their terrified screams cutting through the air like knives.

Superman's expression hardened. No matter how many battles he had fought or worlds he had saved, the sound of innocent people in danger always cut the deepest. Without hesitation, he sped downward, landing with a thunderous boom near the wreckage. The streets were filled with panicked citizens, and emergency responders were already on the scene, desperately trying to help those trapped inside.

"Help! Over here!"

A firefighter waved frantically as part of the building began to collapse even further. Without thinking, Superman moved at super-speed, catching the falling beams before they could crush a group of workers. His muscles strained as he held up the weight, scanning for survivors.

"Everyone, get back!" he called out, his voice calm but authoritative. He lowered the beams gently to the side, clearing a path for the emergency crews to enter the area.

Within minutes, he had dug through the rubble, lifting massive chunks of debris as if they were weightless. The emergency responders looked on in awe, some of them shaking their heads in disbelief.

"Who is this guy?" one of them muttered.

"I don't know," another responded, "but he just saved a lot of lives."

As the last of the survivors were pulled from the wreckage, Superman hovered above the scene, scanning for any additional threats. His enhanced hearing picked up the distant sound of sirens, but it wasn't the police or the fire department.

No, this was something else.


The Boys' Hideout

Meanwhile, back at The Boys' hideout, Butcher paced restlessly, his mind working overtime as he tried to anticipate Superman's next move. The plan was in motion, but things were about to get complicated. Very complicated.

Starlight stood near the window, her arms folded across her chest. She hadn't said much since their last conversation, but Butcher could tell she was stewing over something. It wasn't just the plan that bothered her—it was the larger picture. The more she learned about Vought's inner workings, the more she realized just how deep the corruption went. Superman might be their best hope, but she knew Butcher was playing with fire.

"You're going to push him too far, Butcher," she said quietly, not turning to face him. "Superman isn't like the others. He won't take the bait the same way Homelander does."

Butcher chuckled darkly. "Oh, he'll take it, alright. Supes like him, they can't resist a good ol' moral dilemma. We just need to give him the right... nudge."

Starlight shook her head. "You don't get it. Superman's not a killer. He's not like Homelander or the others. He won't cross that line."

Butcher's smile faded, his eyes hardening. "Everyone's got a line, love. Even him. We just need to show him the world ain't as black and white as he thinks."

Hughie, sitting on the couch, piped up. "But what if he doesn't? What if he really is different?"

Butcher didn't answer. Instead, he pulled out a small device from his coat—a tracker, one Frenchie had designed specifically for tonight's mission. He held it up for everyone to see.

"We'll know soon enough," he said, his voice laced with dark intent. "Vought's gonna release their little pet project, and when they do, Superman'll have no choice but to act. We just need to be ready when the fireworks start."

Starlight's face paled. "You mean... you knew?"

Butcher's grin returned. "Course I knew, love. Vought's been workin' on that monster for years. Superman's walking into a trap, and he doesn't even know it."


Midtown Manhattan – The Encounter

As Superman hovered above the wreckage, his keen senses picked up a disturbance. A massive figure approached, moving with unnatural speed for something so large. The streets began to clear as civilians scrambled to get out of the way, their fear palpable.

Superman turned toward the source of the disturbance and saw it: a hulking, monstrous figure with glowing eyes, easily twice the size of any man. Its skin was thick, almost metallic, and its movements were calculated, predatory.

It wasn't just strong—it was engineered for one purpose.

Superman descended slowly, his eyes narrowing as he studied the creature. "What are you?" he asked aloud, though he already knew the answer.

The creature didn't respond. Instead, it let out a guttural growl, crouching slightly as if preparing to attack.

In the distance, Butcher, Frenchie, and Hughie watched through binoculars from a rooftop. Starlight stood beside them, her expression a mix of concern and dread.

"Bloody hell, look at that thing," Hughie muttered, lowering his binoculars. "What the hell did Vought do?"

Butcher's grin widened. "They made themselves a little insurance policy. And now, it's time for the main event."


The Battle Begins

Without warning, the creature lunged at Superman with blinding speed. Its fists slammed into the ground where Superman had stood just seconds earlier, sending shockwaves through the street. Superman dodged effortlessly, his body a blur as he moved out of the way.

The creature was fast—faster than Superman had expected. Its massive form belied its agility, and within seconds, it was charging again, its glowing eyes fixated on its target.

Superman caught the creature's next strike, his arms trembling slightly under the sheer force of the blow. He gritted his teeth, pushing back with his own strength, forcing the creature to stumble backward.

But it recovered quickly, lashing out with a brutal backhand that sent Superman crashing through the side of a nearby building. Debris rained down as the walls crumbled, but Superman was already back on his feet, dusting himself off.

The creature roared again, its body glowing faintly as it charged once more. But this time, Superman was ready.

He moved faster than the creature could react, delivering a series of rapid-fire punches to its torso. Each blow landed with enough force to crack concrete, but the creature barely flinched. Its skin, enhanced by Vought's engineering, absorbed the impact, and it retaliated with a devastating uppercut that sent Superman soaring into the sky.

Superman steadied himself in mid-air, his eyes narrowing as he studied his opponent. This wasn't just brute strength. The creature had been designed specifically to fight him—adapt, counter, and overwhelm.

But Superman wasn't about to let that happen.


From the Rooftop

Hughie was visibly nervous, watching the battle unfold. The street below was in chaos as Superman and the asset traded blows, their fight sending shockwaves that reverberated throughout the city.

"Hughie, mate, I wouldn't bother worrying about the alien. He's tougher than he looks," Butcher said, his voice gruff but amused as he took in the spectacle with a disturbing calm.

Starlight's face was pale with worry. "Butcher, you have no idea what you've set in motion. This isn't a game! Look at them—there are people down there, innocents—"

Butcher's smirk faded, his tone turning cold. "You think Vought gives a toss about them? They're the ones who put that thing on the street. You reckon Superman's gonna take them down without a fight? This is the world, love. You don't get to save it without gettin' your hands dirty."

Starlight turned away, fists clenched in frustration, but her eyes remained glued to the battlefield. Superman was clearly trying to limit the damage, darting between the asset's strikes and deflecting debris from hitting bystanders. But every time he gained ground, the asset adapted, its speed and strength growing more intense.


Midtown Manhattan – Superman's Struggle

Superman landed in the middle of the street, the asphalt cracking under his feet. His breathing was steady, but his mind raced. The asset wasn't just a mindless brute—it was learning, evolving mid-fight. Every time he knocked it back, it got up faster, stronger, and more aggressive.

"You're not like the others," Superman muttered, staring at the creature as it lumbered toward him. "But that doesn't mean I'll let you destroy this city."

The asset let out a roar, its glowing eyes locking onto Superman before charging again. This time, Superman braced himself and allowed the creature to make contact, but instead of fighting strength with strength, he pivoted, using the creature's own momentum against it. With a fluid motion, Superman lifted the asset and hurled it into a nearby building.

The building's structure shuddered, but the creature didn't stay down for long. It crashed through the wall, emerging covered in debris but completely unfazed. Superman's heat vision flicked to life, searing a path directly toward the creature. But the asset merely absorbed the energy, its body shimmering for a moment before charging again.

Superman felt his pulse quicken. The heat vision wasn't working, and brute force was getting him nowhere. He needed to end this fight quickly before more people were hurt.


The Boys' Rooftop – Butcher's Perspective

Butcher watched with narrowed eyes. He could tell Superman was holding back, trying to minimize the damage to the city and its people. And that, in Butcher's mind, was Superman's biggest weakness.

"Look at him," Butcher muttered under his breath, arms crossed as he stared at the fight. "The alien's worried about collateral damage. Won't fight proper when he's busy protectin' all the little ants down there."

Hughie turned to him, frowning. "Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe Superman isn't the problem here, Butcher. He's trying to stop this thing—"

Butcher cut him off. "You don't get it, do ya? Superman's tryin' to play hero in a world that doesn't play by those rules. Vought built that creature to kill him, and if we don't push him to his limit, he'll never stop playin' nice."

Starlight, her patience worn thin, whirled on Butcher. "You're using him as a pawn! You don't care if he lives or dies, do you?"

Butcher's gaze hardened, and he slowly approached her, his voice low and dangerous. "You're right, love. I don't care. Because when it comes to these Supes, they're all the same. If Superman's as good as you think he is, he'll beat that thing and do it without breakin' a sweat. And if he doesn't... well, one less Supe to worry about."

Starlight stood her ground, her eyes blazing with anger. "You don't care about anyone, do you? Not Superman, not the people he's trying to protect. You just want to tear it all down, no matter the cost."

Butcher's face remained emotionless, but there was a flicker of something dark in his eyes. "You've got it half right. I care about stoppin' Vought. And I'll burn down everythin' if it means takin' them with me."


Midtown Manhattan – Superman vs. The Asset

Superman shot into the air, surveying the battlefield below. The asset stood in the middle of the street, its glowing eyes following his every move. Its armor-like skin shimmered with energy, still absorbing the impacts from their previous clashes. Superman knew that brute force wouldn't work, but there had to be another way.

He focused his hearing, filtering out the noise of the city to hone in on the creature's internal systems. His super-hearing picked up the faint whirring of machinery deep inside the asset—a synthetic core, likely its power source.

There it is, Superman thought. I need to take out its core.

He descended, landing softly on the ground a few dozen feet from the asset. The creature growled, anticipating another physical assault, but Superman had other plans. He sprinted toward the asset at super-speed, using his enhanced reflexes to dodge the creature's wild swings. As the asset lunged, Superman ducked under its arm and delivered a precise strike to its side.

There was a flash of sparks, and the creature roared in pain as its balance faltered for the first time.

Superman didn't waste any time. He moved with blinding speed, hitting the same spot again and again until the creature's armor cracked. Beneath the metallic surface, wires and circuitry were exposed.

"Got you," Superman muttered, delivering a final blow to the exposed area.

The asset stumbled, its movements sluggish now as sparks flew from its body. It tried to lash out at Superman, but the blows were weaker, less coordinated. Superman dodged easily, preparing for one final strike to disable it completely.

But before he could finish the fight, something unexpected happened.

The asset's body convulsed, and a surge of energy erupted from its chest, knocking Superman back. The creature let out a deafening roar as its core began to destabilize. The glow in its eyes flickered, and for the first time, Superman saw something that almost resembled fear in its expression.

It's going to explode, Superman realized, his mind racing. The core had been damaged, and if it detonated in the middle of the city, the blast would level several blocks.


From the Rooftop – The Boys React

Starlight's eyes widened in horror as she realized what was happening. "Butcher, we have to get people out of there! That thing's going to blow!"

Butcher remained eerily calm, watching the scene unfold. "Let the alien handle it."

Hughie, on the verge of panic, grabbed Butcher's arm. "What are you talking about? People are going to die if that thing explodes!"

Butcher shook him off. "And you think Superman's just gonna stand by and let it happen? He's the hero, right? Let him deal with it."

Starlight turned away, already moving toward the door. "I'm going to help with the evacuation."

Butcher didn't stop her, his eyes still fixed on Superman and the asset. "Go ahead, love. You do that."


Midtown Manhattan – The Final Moments

Superman stared at the asset, his mind racing as the countdown to detonation ticked down. He had seconds to act, and there was only one option.

He shot forward, grabbing the asset by its torso and launching both of them into the sky at supersonic speeds. The wind roared in his ears as he flew higher and higher, breaking through the cloud cover in seconds. The asset thrashed in his grip, but Superman held firm, his grip like iron.

Above the city, the stars shone brightly, but there was no time to admire them. Superman pushed himself higher still, breaking through the stratosphere. The air grew thinner, and the asset's thrashing became weaker.

Finally, Superman reached the edge of space. He glanced down at the Earth below, the sprawling city nothing but a distant speck, and with a final surge of strength, he hurled the asset into the void.

The creature exploded moments later, its core detonating in a brilliant flash of light. The shockwave rippled outward, but Superman was already flying back to Earth, his mind focused on the people below.


Midtown – The Aftermath

Superman landed softly in the middle of the street, where emergency responders and civilians alike stared up in awe at the night sky. The explosion had lit up the horizon, but it was far enough from the city that no one had been hurt.

He stood for a moment, catching his breath, when a group of children, still wide-eyed with awe, approached him.

"You saved us," one of them said, her voice trembling with gratitude.

Superman smiled softly, kneeling down to her level. "It's what I'm here for."


The Boys' Hideout

Butcher watched from the rooftop, a grim expression on his face as Superman landed and helped the citizens below.

"He did it," Hughie said softly, a mixture of relief and disbelief in his voice.

Butcher grunted, turning away from the scene. "Yeah. For now."