Marvel's Superman

by Norrin The Bookworm

This is the story of Kal-El, The Last Son of Krypton. But not the one we know. This one exists within the MCU. This is the story of Kal-El, the Last Son of Krypton who even in a universe of Marvels, filled with; billionaires in suits of armor, super soldiers, Norse gods, spies and monsters becomes the greatest hero on Earth... Superman.

4. Chapter Three: Man or Superman? - Part 1

Marvel's Superman

Authors Note: Hello everyone Norrin. This is Chapter Three. It takes a part of the old version of Chapter Two and expands upon it in a way that I hope makes the story better. This chapter is really what I consider the beginnings to Apollo's journey to heroism. I hope you all enjoy it.

Review Replies

robert32514: It has homages to Smallville but it's its own unique thing as this chapter will probably make clear.

Abyss Trinity: Yes I have seen the new Superman suit and while I like elements it's not my favourite Superman suit. Also yes I have read X-Men 97 and I enjoyed it a lot.

Guest: Sorry about the bloat, I don't know if this rewrite helps but I hope it at least improves the story somewhat.

Necros The Saiyan Knight: I think I want to keep it MCU although I potentially have considered adding the Fox-verse 2000s Fantastic Four to the MCU because I honestly think they can fit into the MCU rather organically. I'd have to change some things but I genuinely have considered that possibility. As for the X-Men. No. They would change the MCU timeline too much. As for the updates I've chosen to go with the shorter chapters route.

Fredward1: Because this is the MCU timeline. In the MCU at this stage the only publicly known super powered individual was Steve Rogers. They are no mutants or meta humans as far as the public is concerned. Also Apollo's issues are about being fully himself. Half measures don't work. The dialogue from Smallville were my homages to them but most of the story is very different from Smallville so idk why you would think I'm going to write all 10 seasons of Smallville. Absolutely not. As for why Ikaris doesn't help out. He's still an Eternal and so they operate on the logic they can't interfere except for when Deviants are involved. Obviously they make exceptions here and there but this is millennia of learned behaviour. Besides Ikaris doesn't live in Smallville and neither does Makkari why would he ask them for help with things he can handle on his own?

SunGod499: I'm glad the Smallville stuff made you feel nostalgic. It made me feel nostalgic writing it.

Samoz: I am considering adding the Fantastic Four from the 2000s into the MCU cause they can actually fit in very easily but no X-Men too hard to write in.

Eanid: Thanks I'm glad you liked it. Hopefully you like the updates story too.

Leon 2570: Thanks I'm happy to hear that and don't worry. Apollo will definitely interact with more MCU characters as the story progresses.

bookwormjohnny2: I'm happy you like it and thanks for telling me. I'll fix that in future chapters for sure.

Dragonhulk: Thanks for the writing note. Any suggestions you have to help me improve my speech. I'm welcome to hear them, please send me a PM because I truly want to improve at writing speech and I hope the updated story has better speech.

lastgodofwar: I get that, sorry the story disappointed you.

Isaac Young-Star: You'll be happy to know I took your advice to heart. I hope you like the updated story.

omes848484: Damn, sorry you find the story boring. What do you mean by retelling of the original?

SMB: Ajak is Ajak of the Eternals from the Eternals movie directed by Chloe Zhao. I also didn't make it up for no reason I did it because Ajak felt like a natural MCU stand in for Martha especially considering she retired to small town and lived on a farm. So seeing that is what inspired me to think what if Ajak met an MCU version of Jonathan Kent and they raised Kal-El together birthing this story.

Apologies in advance for any grammatical errors I still don't have a Beta so I'm trying my best but if there's mistakes I'm sorry.

Cast: Identical to MoS/Smallville and MCU with these additions/exception/clarifications

Jonathan Kent: Brendan Fraser

Apollo: Young Tom Welling

Pete: Young Sam Jones III

Chloe: Young Allison Mack

Ben Hubbard: James Marsden

Skye Hubbard: Teen Paris Berelc.

Whitney Fordman: Young Eric Johnson

Deputy McNally: Lou Ferrigno Jr.

Doctor Wesley: Rob LaBelle

Montgomery Mankins: John Shea

Bryan Mankins: Young Zach Roerig

Corey Mankins: Young Matt Davis

Gloria Alvarez: Young Victoria Justice

Francisco: Young Tyler Posey

Chapter Three

Man or Superman? Part 1

Location: Smallville, Kansas – Earth – 2003

Smallville slowly recovered from the meteor shower. That summer the town rallied and rebuilt aided by sizeable donations by Stark Industries and Hammer Industries. Hammer Industries began building various plants throughout Smallville and Stark Industries had started its Intelli-Crops initiative in Smallville. The money from both helped Smallville recover as did the newfound tourism as Smallville was quickly labelled 'The Meteor Capital of the World' and had gotten a lot of press. Smallville went from a town nobody heard of to a town that had the world's attention, as scientists and agencies flocked to understand the unprecedented meteor shower.

Even Apollo's Ma and his Aunts and Uncles didn't fully understand what happened. Never before had so many meteors struck the same area. Ajak told Ikaris to investigate it so he flew into space to find out more and see if it was some kind of attack or cosmic test. Ajak wanted to call Phastos but was unsure of whether or not he was willing to part from the life he was building for himself for her after so many years of no contact. The last time she saw him after the bombings he was heartbroken at what the gift of technology lead humans to. Humanity had such ingenuity and intelligence yet seemed dead set on using it to create weapons to hurt and conquer one another. Phastos like Druig couldn't take it and they were times were even Ajak felt their pain, seeing a people you've nurtured for millennia constantly fall to violence, bigotry and discrimination was difficult. However, moments like those she saw in the last few months' filler her with more than enough hope. Seeing the town of Smallville unite in order to help each other and seeing the world coming to aid those in need. Those moments made her see why her and her family loved humanity in the first place, their capacity for kindness, for compassion, for empathy and for love could be truly awe inspiring at times.

Apollo saw that too and was filled with new resolve to help those in need, he however promised himself and his parents that he'd try to lead a normal teenage life and so he was doing that also. Apollo was currently watching a helicopter standing next to his Dad on the terrace. The two of them watched the helicopter pass overhead yet again. Third time in the past twenty minutes.

This didn't sit well with Apollo.

He'd always felt protective of the farm. It was the only place he felt he could truly be himself. Here he wasn't a freak or an alien but a member of a family who was loved.

Helicopters were a rare sight in the area. Most farmers no longer dusted crops by air. But what really bothered Apollo was the way the chopper weaved across the gray sky in a distinct pattern—flying over their small farmhouse, past the pond and the cornfields and the chicken coop, and then dipping lower near the large crater that butted up against their old barn.

Whoever was up there was looking for something.

But what?

When Apollo had brought up his concern earlier, his dad shrugged it off.

"Can't say I appreciate it either, Apollo. But there's no law against flying over someone's property" Jonathan simply said to his son.

So Apollo stuck with the other law-related subject they'd been discussing: the controversial new stop-and-search issue on the ballot in Smallville. It had already been passed into law in a couple of neighboring towns because the influx of tourism and business to the area because of the meteor shower also lead to an influx of migrant workers and seemingly that was a problem. The law was being debated here but Apollo refused to believe the residents of Smallville would support it. Would they?

"So the police would be able to stop anyone?" Apollo asked his dad. "At any time? With no cause?"

Wiping his brow on the shoulder of his flannel shirt, Jonathan Kent turned to Apollo. Apollo studied his Dad. He looked like he was trying to find a pragmatic answer to tell Apollo but struggling to find the words.

"The population's changing, son. And some communities…I think they're scared about where this change might leave them" Jonathan told Apollo.

"But it's racist." Apollo replied a little flippantly causing his father to chuckle

"On that we agree but a lot of people view it a little more complicated than that. But still, I'm voting no on the issue." Jonathan replied

Apollo nodded and drove his shovel back into the ground. Even in his annoyance, he was careful not to use too much force. He remembered when he was younger and he kept snapping them on accident. Even now Apollo regretted the things he broke with his strength when he was younger. He knew his folks didn't have money for that kind of extra expense and so he always tried to be extra careful if he was using the farm equipment but he also wasn't perfect and he could get angry or emotional and slip so right now he was trying very hard to not slip and break his shovel. However, it seriously depressed him to think that anyone in Smallville could vote for a law that allowed police to make traffic stops based solely on the color of someone's skin.

And what happened if the people in the car didn't have documentation? Could the police just throw them into the back of a squad car and whisk them away?

"That storm's closer than it looks," Jonathan said, peering into the sky again. "This really isn't a great time to be flying."

"What do you think they're looking for?" Apollo asked his Dad.

Jonathan repositioned a loose fence post in one of the holes Apollo had dug.

"Whatever it is, they should think about heading in soon" Jonathan replied simply focusing more on the farm work than the helicopter.

A drizzle began falling, and the sky swiftly grew more sinister. The helicopter overhead looped away from a dark cloud, then came back around for yet another pass as the rain picked up. Apollo expected them to go towards the shelter and hold off whatever search they were doing but they kept flying up there. Whatever they were searching for seemed important enough to brave the elements. Apollo's Dad seemingly noticed the change in weather and stopped what he was doing, he started to wave his arms to get their attention so he could direct them inside but it was too late. The whir of the helicopter blades was drowned out by a loud clap of thunder. The sudden silence that followed made them both look up. Helicopters weren't supposed to just stop making noise. It was plunging toward the ground near the barn. Swirling unnaturally in some kind of death spiral.

Apollo's body surged with energy as every thought in his body told him he had to intervene, he had to save them. Apollo looked to his Dad who simply nodded understanding what his son needed to do and then he dropped the shovel and took off.

Apollo tore across the field, hyperaware of everything around him: the thick drops of rain suspended like teardrops in the sky, the deafening silence cocooning his body, the breath suspended in his lungs. In instances like this one, when his powers took hold and his thoughts receded, Earth felt smaller and more fragile, as if its rules no longer applied. Yet Apollo knew this was only an illusion. Gravity would still yank down the chopper. The collision with the ground would still be catastrophic. The people inside would die. He was the one who could break the rules and that meant he was the one who had to save those that couldn't save themselves.

Apollo leaped into the air and flew underneath the copter grabbing hold of the landing skids careful to not completely stop the copters descent but rather slow it down and direct it in a manner that wouldn't arise suspicion but still save the people inside. He clutched the thick steel in his hands and braced himself with his feet. Apollo's feet touched the ground as he braced himself to slow the helicopter and he instantly felt all of the chopper's immense momentum. The full force of the freefalling four-ton helicopter flowed through him as he slowed it down. His feet skidded through the dirt and his glasses fell off his face as he tried to come to a stop. Apollo gritted his teeth and used more of his strength to kneel in the mud and instinctively push back against the immense force he was feeling causing the massive machine to jolt and twist in his grasp. However, he miscalculated, he stopped it too suddenly and the whiplash of the sudden stop caused a ripple of force to run across the chopper. It spun out of his control and landed on its side with a tremendous crash, blades digging into the soft earth with a wet thwacking sound, shrapnel flying everywhere.

The chopper settled only inches from the side of the old barn. Apollo stared in shock at the helicopter's battered underbelly, smoke and steam spewing out of the wreckage. He could hear the heartbeats of all of the occupants, they were alive. Apollo smiled a little to himself but made a mental note that if he ever needed to catch any flying things he needed to catch them higher and slow their momentum to a halt before they reached the ground.

"Hey!" Apollo shouted, scooping his glasses off the ground and putting them back on. "Anyone need help?"

Apollo used his x-ray vision and saw someone hanging halfway out the cracked back window, their heart was still beating but their breathing was a little shallow meaning they were unconscious. They were others but they were moving and checking on one another meaning they were conscious. He needed to help the one that wasn't, especially since Apollo could hear the glass of the window grow less structurally sound meaning it would fall and cut into the person's unconscious body. Apollo hurried over and pulled the limp body down from the vessel. Just in time, as the remainder of the window fell from the frame in a single sheet, shattering against the side of the chopper. Apollo held the guy in his arms, looking him over. It was a kid he recognized from school. Bryan Something. He must've been thrown from the cockpit when the blades smacked against the ground. His head had punctured the window.

Bryan's eyes were closed, and his pale arms hung lifelessly.

"Son!" Jonathan shouted calling for him in the distance as he ran towards them. "You all right?"

The boy groaned weakly as Jonathan's shouting seemingly woke him and he blindly reached a hand up toward the raw scrape on his forehead.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Apollo set him on the ground.

Bryan tested his arms and legs as if trying to confirm that he was still alive.

Apollo studied his dark, scraggly hair. His deep-set eyes and stooped shoulders. He was thin, like one of the fence posts Apollo and his dad had just been repairing. Yet there was a fire in his eyes. Then Apollo remembered how he knew Bryan. He was new at school, having started just before the end of the year.

"What…happened?" Bryan managed to say.

"There's been an accident." Apollo motioned toward the ground near the helicopter. "You're lucky you landed here. In the mud."

Bryan scrambled to his feet. "Corey!" he shouted, hurrying around to the battered cockpit.

Two other people were now cautiously climbing out of the wreckage. They each had several cuts and bruises, but miraculously none of their injuries appeared to be serious. One was a middle-aged, balding man. He wore thin glasses that were slightly bent, and he was holding a cell phone in his right hand. He stood in the mud, looking back and forth between the helicopter and Apollo, something unsettling in his gaze.

The other passenger wasn't much older than Bryan. He was taller, though. And broader. They looked like brothers.

"Thank God you're okay, Corey," Bryan said.

His brother marched right up to Bryan and jabbed an angry finger into his chest.

"What were you thinking up there! You could've killed us!" Corey said angrily.

"I just looped back around like you—" Bryan started to say before he was cut off by his brother.

"This is the one thing you're supposed to be good at, Bryan! But you suck as a pilot, too, don't you? God, no wonder Mom and Dad think you're such a loser!" Corey said clearly emotional cause of the crash.

Apollo watched Bryan turn away silently.

Jonathan showed up, breathing heavily after sprinting across the field. Mercifully, he stepped between the brothers.

"Easy, guys. I've already called for help. What matters is that everyone's okay." Jonathan told them deescalating the situation.

Apollo marveled at how quickly Bryan's older brother's demeanor shifted. Two seconds ago, he'd been berating his brother. Now he was smiling at Apollo's dad like some kind of over caffeinated tractor salesman. He held out his hand for Jonathan to shake which his father did very tentatively.

"I was just explaining that to my brother, sir. The main thing is we're all okay." Corey said a charming smile on his face.

"I'm Corey Mankins," he said through an artificial grin. "This your farm?"

Jonathan nodded.

Apollo realized these weren't just any brothers. They were the sole heirs to the powerful Mankins Corporation. But what were they doing in a helicopter above his farm? He glanced at a middle aged man with glasses, who appeared to be discreetly collecting something from the wreckage slipping it back into his pocket. Apollo saw that it was a flash drive and he watched the man suspiciously.

"Where are my manners?" Corey said to Jonathan noticing Apollo and Jonathan eyeing the mysterious man in the back.

"This is Dr. Paul Wesley, a renowned scientist from Nevada. And you've already met my brother, Bryan. The three of us were out here taking atmospheric measurements to help inform our harvest schedule" Corey said still keeping his artificial charm going.

Jonathan gave his name and shook hands with them. Apollo did the same. The scientist's handshake was especially aggressive, like he was trying to establish some kind of unspoken dominance. Apollo fought the urge to show the guy what a tight grip could really feel like.

"Listen, I'm sorry about your field," Corey went on. "My father would be happy to pay any damages—"

"No, no, that won't be necessary," Jonathan said, cutting him off.

"Just a bunch of mud and dirt out here. And a barn on its last legs. I'm more concerned about you fellas." Jonathan assured him before and Corey nodded seemingly a bit shocked at the refusal of any kind of payment.

Apollo turned to the scientist. As someone who was always interested in science and especially the unknown he was curious about speaking with an actual expert.

"So…atmospheric measurements?" Apollo questioned trying to get more insight into what exactly they were doing.

"That's right," Paul said pushing up his glasses. "My company specializes in agricultural gene editing and environmental strategies."

"Future of farming," Corey added. "By tracking weather patterns, we can better predict when to plant, what to plant, and where to plant. It's like crop disease and pest scouting on a whole new level. The more science we bring to farming, the more efficient we'll be. And efficiency, as I'm sure you know…It was Mr. Kent, wasn't it?"

"That's right." Jonathan answered.

"Efficiency, Mr. Kent, brings prices down and production up. Everyone wins." Corey said to Jonathan hoping his faux charm would work on the senior Kent.

Jonathan however simply nodded politely and Apollo could tell his dad was just as skeptical as he was. Corey was a smooth talker. Apollo and his dad had never liked people who pretended to have all the answers. No matter how rich they were.

Soon a couple of fire trucks arrived at the scene.

Then an ambulance. And the county deputy sheriff.

Deputy McNally had a long yellow raincoat on, and he peered out from underneath the oversized hood after each question. Corey did most of the talking, while Apollo tried to stay out of it, standing beside his father and occasionally glancing at a dejected-looking Bryan.

EMTs took the three crash victims to the back of the ambulance to check their injuries, and Deputy McNally followed with a notepad and pen, occasionally barking directions into his crackling radio.

By the time a special flatbed tow truck had arrived, the rain was a full-on downpour. Apollo and his dad huddled under the eaves of the barn and watched the scene unfold. Not entirely strangers to interacting with the local police department. McNally was giving his men orders but strangely seemed to be looking to the scientist and Corey for approval. His crew worked to load the wrecked helicopter awkwardly onto the truck, Corey insisting they do it according to his special instructions and Deputy McNally making his men listen to them.

Before the truck pulled away, Dr. Wesley and Deputy McNally walked towards one another away from everyone else and had a discreet conversation. Wesley was seemingly telling him something that had him Deputy McNally agitated and after fighting the urge to not eavesdrop Apollo finally gave in a caught the tail end of the conversation.

"So still no sign?" Deputy McNally said.

"Not yet but this is Smallville nothing stays hidden for long" Dr. Wesley replied

"Right you are. I'll keep an eye out" McNally told him and Wesley simply nodded in response before the Deputy turned and went back to talk to his men.

Apollo stopped listening and walked over to Bryan, the kid's arm was now in a sling and a fresh butterfly bandage covered the cut on his forehead.

"You okay?" Apollo asked, motioning toward his arm.

"It's nothing," Bryan said, forcing a smile. "Just a precaution until they can do X-rays."

Apollo glanced at Bryan's arm seeing right through the sling. Through the skin and muscle and cartilage. Apollo looked at Bryan's bones—as clear as if they were outside his body. Seeing all the stuff inside a human arm didn't bother him anymore, by now he had grown use to it and was mostly curious. Fortunately, all the bones he saw were intact. There were no cracks or breaks or dislocations of any kind.

"You pulled me out the window before it came down on me," Bryan said, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're like…you're a hero, man. I could've been seriously hurt."

Apollo scoffed, adjusting his glasses. He still wasn't entirely comfortable receiving compliments after saving people's lives no matter how many times he'd done it.

"I was just in the right place at the right time, I guess" Apollo said to him warmly.

"And you're humble too, most guys who are star athletes have ego's a mile long. You're seriously one of a kind" Bryan said and Apollo sheepishly smiled.

"Everyone's one of a kind, including you. Never forget that" Apollo told him as he reassuringly put his hand on his shoulder remembering how his brother berated him after the crash. Bryan was visibly very touched by this and after an awkward moment coughed and looked away.

"Well…" Bryan turned to look at the battered helicopter lying on its side on the truck. "Can't believe I lost control like that. I'm not even sure what went wrong exactly."

"Had to be the storm," Apollo told him. "It got bad really fast."

Bryan nodded and lightning flashed, illuminating the concerned look on hisface. A powerful roar of thunder followed.

"Bryan!" Corey called out from beside the ambulance. "Come on. Let's go."

Bryan shook Apollo's hand thanking him once more before running off to his brother. Apollo watched them, the Doctor and the Deputy and his men leave.

"You're lucky that I didn't die in that crash you moron, if you messed up everything me and Dad had been working on with the Japanese, Dad would personally flail you" Apollo heard Corey tell his brother before he decided to stop eavesdropping.

Apollo briefly thought about the Deputy and the Doctor's conversation before he saw his Mum drive back to the farm having finished her shift at the hospital. Sprite was in the car with her, she usually volunteered to read stories to the sick and blind kids in her spare time so the two would usually carpool.

Jonathan and he walked over to Ajak and Sprite. Ajak looked a bit confused having driven past EMTs and police cars on her way entering the farm whereas Sprite had an expectant and interested grin on her face like she was awaiting a really cool story.

"Jonathan, Apollo. What happened?" Ajak questioned as Jonathan pecked her on the lips like he usually did when she came home.

"It's a long story" Apollo said as he dapped up Sprite before kissing his Mum's forehead to greet her.

"Do tell" Sprite said way more excited than she should be after seeing a parade of cop cars and ambulance drive from their house.

"Let me shower first and I'll tell you everything" Apollo said to them both and the two nodded noticing how completely covered in mud he was.

Apollo walked into the house with his family briefly looking back at the crater caused by the crash before looking forward to his parents and his aunt and deciding to put the lingering thoughts he had about the Doctor and the Helicopter to rest.

---

Location: The Talon, Smallville, Kansas - 2003

A few weeks later Apollo was sitting with Skye at the Talon helping her study for a French test. Apollo had since moved on from the helicopter incident and it seemed the town had to. Skye was wearing a simple shirt and jeans with one of Apollo's letterman jackets and Apollo was wearing a long sleeved blue shirt with blue jeans and his regular pair of glasses.

"Can you show me the way home?" Apollo said in French.

"Yes" Skye replied in French.

"Do you actually know what you're responding to or are you just saying 'oui' to everything" Apollo said chuckling at Skye a little.

"Oui" Skye replied jokingly and the two of them laughed together.

Skye reached out and held Apollo's hand as they gazed at each other adoringly for a moment still chuckling a little.

"I'm sorry Apollo, I am trying but language isn't really my thing" Skye told him.

"I know your thing is more computers and coding but still you need to at least pass this French test to maintain your GPA" Apollo said warmly in response.

"Okay, I'll try cause unlike you I don't have perfect memory and a super computer for a brain and I won't have a million sports scholarships waiting for me when I'm done with high school" Skye said to him jokingly.

"You can get cheerleading scholarships" Apollo said only for Skye to roll her eyes at the notion of using cheerleading to apply to a University that specializes in STEM and Apollo laughed a little at how dramatic her eye roll was.

"If that thought is something you're so against maybe next time you're over I can teach you how to play football or basketball" Apollo joked at her.

"I would but then I'd steal your spot on the roster and I feel like that'd be too embarrassing for you" Skye retorted.

"You wish" Apollo said in response as he readjusted his glasses just as he heard a truck pull over and saw Pete and Chloe jump out.

Pete and Chloe walked up to Apollo and Skye and Chloe seemed to have a lot of excited energy.

"Incoming" Apollo said to Skye as she turned her head to see Pete and Chloe.

"Hi sorry to interrupt your study date but I found more proof" Chloe said excitedly.

"You should be sorry; you're getting in their way of their couple time for your crazy theories" Pete told her chastising her a little.

"It's fine Pete, truthfully I'm about as good at French as I'm ever going to get" Skye said.

"See I told you they wouldn't mind" Chloe told Pete as he just grumbled.

"What did you find? Is it about the investigation you're doing on Principal Rice?" Apollo asked Chloe.

"No but I am basically done with that one. This is something else, I've collected enough stuff for me to think I have solid evidence that the meteor shower is mutating all kinds of things in Smallville" Chloe said an almost boastful smile on her face.

Over the summer Chloe swore she'd seen someone do something she couldn't explain and was convinced that the meteors were causing unexplainable things to happen to Smallville and its residents. Apollo didn't know what to make of that, he had noticed a slight increase in odd accidents he had to save people from but nothing completely out of the ordinary.

Apollo wanted to ask Chloe to elaborate but jut then Whitney and some of his crew pulled up to the Talon. They noticed Apollo and walked up to him confident smirks on their faces.

"There he is, how's that golden arm big fella? You ready for the game?" Whitney said as he put his hands on Apollo's shoulders and began massaging them.

"We're definitely gonna need some of that Kent magic against Trinity High school" Kenny added.

"Don't you worry guys, my arm's just fine and I've got more than enough magic to beat Trinity" Apollo confidently told them.

"That's what I like to hear" Whitney said.

"You guys coming to the game? I mean you have to; this is like the biggest game of the season so far. The Rocks versus The Crows. Kent vs Brohm. It's getting National coverage; it'll be a movie" Kenny said to everyone at Apollo's table.

"We'll all be there" Pete told him.

"Yeah, I'm part of the cheer squad so I have to be there" Skye said

"And I'm the editor in chief of the school paper so I also have to be there" Chloe said.

"Have to be. Ouch. Here I thought you guys just liked watching me play" Apollo quipped.

"Eh" Chloe said jokingly in response.

Apollo smiled at Chloe's ability to make what Apollo did seem mundane. Since joining the school sports teams this new school year Apollo had blossomed into a sensational three sport athlete that was breaking records left right and center. He was the best point guard in his class and the top prospect, he was the best pitcher and hitter in the state and despite his age many pundits and scouts thought he was the best quarterback in the nation outright. Apollo rocketed to unforeseen sports stardom. He was quickly dubbed the 'The Ultimate' because no matter what field or court he was on he was the best of the best. Apollo tried not to let the attention get to his head and having Pete, Chloe and Skye around always kept him grounded. Chloe especially was great at it, since she didn't particularly like sports. His family also kept him humble, his father in particular always stressed the importance of Apollo not using his powers in games and warned him about what too much attention might lead to once actual reporters start showing up at their doorstep. Apollo reassured him he'd never cheat but even he was worried about what too much fame might lead to. And even though Apollo never used his powers while playing whatever he was his natural strength, speed, agility, athleticism and coordination where off the charts. All of the Smallville High sports teams were unbeaten in the season and Apollo was the reason why.

Honestly though as nice as winning was what Apollo was really enjoying being a part of a team. As someone who felt like an outsider so much in his life being a part of a locker room and having a squad of guys who had your back and you shared a goal with made him feel more like he had his place. The way the team all came together for every training session and game and the way the town got more excited about each win made Apollo feel connected to Smallville more than ever before and that made him enjoy playing even more. It also helped having a girlfriend that was on the sidelines cheering you on. Skye being a cheerleader meant that whenever looked to the sidelines she was there shouting his name.

"Great, hope to see you all cheering us on as loud as possible at the game. Kent try not to hurt yourself or do anything reckless before the game alright" Whitney told them as he walked away to go collect his order.

The four of them watched Whitney and his crew pick up their coffee and then walk out and once they left Chloe immediately switched the conversation back to what she was talking about before.

"So anyway, as I was saying I found proof of what I've been saying" Chloe said eager to steer the conversation away from football.

"Where is this proof?" Apollo asked genuinely curious.

Chloe's eyes lit up and she got a mischievous grin on her face.

"Come with me" Chloe said as she led the two of them to Pete's truck with a few people in the Talon wishing Apollo good luck as he left.

They drove back to the school and went to the school newspaper room.

"No offense Chloe but we've all seen the Torch before" Skye said.

"Not this part" Chloe said as she led them to a room in the back.

The room was usually locked and empty as it was an old storage room that had all of its contents moved to the basement when the school began to digitise itself more. Chloe opened up the room with a key she had and then turned on the lights.

"It started out as a scrap book and then kind of mutated" Chloe told them.

Skye and Apollo looked at the room before them and noticed a wall filled with newspaper and magazine clippings plus print outs from various websites.

"What is it?" Apollo asked staring at the wall anxiously.

"I call it the Wall of Weird" Chloe answered somewhat proudly.

Apollo looked on at the wall and slowly walked forward, reading the headlines.

"It's every strange, bizarre and unexplained event that's happened since the meteor shower. That was the night everything changed and the town went schizo" Chloe continued.

Apollo read the headlines and saw all the stories. 'Local man gains prehensile feet', 'Child claims ability to see in the dark', 'Magnet girl; Smallville resident displays magnetic power', 'Coma patient disappears in mysterious fire', Hammer Industries building destroyed survivor claims Glowing Man the cause'. They were so many headlines some that seemed like hoaxes, some that could be explained through science but others that were so bizarre that they defied explanation.

"Whoa" Skye said clearly in awe of just how far Chloe went for her theory and potential story.

Apollo was also impressed but more than that he felt guilty, all these people who he hadn't been able to save. All these people whose lives were now completely different. All these people who would considered freaks just like he was and it seemed nobody else cared. They weren't people just headlines, there lives potentially irreversibly changed and they weren't even viewed as human, they might as well have been animals at a zoo. Things to be studied or ogled at. Apollo felt his guilt turn partially to anger.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" Apollo asked Chloe his voice sounding more accusatory than he wanted it to.

"I didn't want to until I had enough that it wouldn't just be brushed off. I needed it to be a clear pattern" Chloe told him instantly noticing Apollo's change in mood.

"Chloe this is clearly way beyond that" Apollo said.

"Well do you tell me everything that happens in your life? We all keep secrets Apollo" Chloe said standing up for herself.

Apollo looked at her and then back at the wall. Apollo saw headlines of all the people who had died mixed in with all the other headlines of the people who were changed by the meteor shower and Apollo couldn't deal with it anymore. The guilt and anger were building in him. Was this what his future would be? Always feeling like he wasn't doing enough with his gifts while knowing the world would treat him like a freak show or a monster when he did use his gifts? Apollo felt Skye put her hand on his arm and rub it gently as she could tell he was getting upset looking at the Wall of Weird.

"Apollo are you okay?" Skye asked concerned.

"I'm fine, and I'm sorry for snapping at you Chloe. I've got to get some air" Apollo told them before walking out and before any of them could even follow him Apollo super sped away.

---

Location: The Loeb Bridge, Smallville, Kansas - 2003

Apollo found himself at Loeb Bridge, the bridge that connected Main Street with one of the new Hammer Industries plants. Apollo stared out at the river below watching the water flow. He focused entirely on the sound of the river as he thought to himself. He wondered what he was meant to do with his powers if the world seemingly wasn't ready to accept someone like him. Captain America was a super soldier; his story was iconic. The story of a scrawny kid from Brooklyn that wouldn't let himself standby as people died and so proved himself worthy of being the first American Super Soldier. He became a symbol and a true hero who managed to lead his team on many successful missions fighting against Hydra and the Nazis before sacrificing himself for the rest of the world. His story was one that spoke to the heroism within people but Apollo wasn't even human. His story would cause fear and so would his power. How could he help people if they all recoiled in fear when he used his power, how could he be a hero while being thought of as someone Chloe would put on her Wall of Weird? How could an alien ever be seen as not a monster?

Apollo took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose as he let himself get lost in his thoughts. Apollo was so deep in thought and focused on listening to the river he didn't notice a Porsche barrelling out of control and headed right for him until it was too late. Apollo turned just as Porsche smashed into him and Apollo let the momentum of the car knock him over so he didn't flatten it and completely kill whoever was inside resulting in both he and the Porsche falling into Elbow River. Apollo fell into the water completely unscathed but he knew the same could not be said about the occupant of the Porsche so he swam towards it. He saw the person inside the Porsche and they were completely knocked out floating lifelessly inside their car. They had brown hair and glasses and were wearing a grey suit, there phone floated around them, they must have been using it while they were driving. Apollo punched open the car and pulled the person out of it. Apollo quickly swam to the shore. He put the person on their back, they seemed fine except for a gash on their cheek most likely from when the collision. Apollo then noticed they weren't breathing, a quick x-ray confirmed they had some water in their lungs and their heart had stopped beating but no other major injuries. Apollo quickly administered CPR.

"Come on, don't die on me" Apollo pleaded with the man just before he spat out water, his heart started beating again and his eyes opened.

Apollo let out a sigh of relief and put his glasses back on as the man looked at him, his expression was a dazed one but that quickly changed to bewilderment as he took in more of his surroundings.

"I could've sworn I hit you" the man said.

"If you did, I'd be….. I'd be dead" Apollo replied as they both looked the bridge.

Soon EMT's and police arrived at the scene and checked the both of them and took their stories. Apollo told them he was almost hit by the car but the man swerved enough to miss him and Apollo dived into the river afterwards to save him. The driver of the car was being a little fawned over by the EMT's and policemen checking him but Apollo didn't give it much thought.

"Always got to save people don't you Apollo" said one of the EMT's his name tag read Mark. Apollo remembered him, he was also there the night he saved Chloe from the ice and Bryan from the crash.

"My parents raised me to always help people so I couldn't just let him drown" Apollo responded.

"I commend you and them for that but don't put yourself into too dangerous a situation otherwise you could end up hurting more than helping" Mark advised.

"So this is a pattern with you, here I thought I was special" the man from the accident said as he walked up to Apollo.

"It is, like you wouldn't believe. He saved the Mankins kid a few weeks ago." Mark told him.

"Well I'd like to thank you for saving me and also apologise for my reckless driving" the man told him as he put out his hand for Apollo to shake. Apollo shook it and smiled warmly at him.

"It's okay, I'm just glad you're alright" Apollo said to him.

"You're a good kid Apollo, we called your Dad and he should be here soon. Stay safe alright, I got a lot riding on you leading us to a victory over Trinity in the big game later this week" Mark said as he finished checking Apollo.

"So you're a football star?" the man said trying to learn more about the teen who saved his life.

"Kinda, and a basketball star and a baseball one" Apollo humbly told him not yet feeling comfortable with being somewhat of a local celebrity.

"Oh my god, don't tell me you're the local high school sports star. You are in all the local papers, I can't believe I almost run over Smallville's pride and joy" the man said as he realised who Apollo was.

"Almost being the operative word there, maybe in future drive slower and try not to use your phone" Apollo advised his tone friendly and warm and the man chuckled in response.

"Duly noted, hopefully the press doesn't get wind of this. My companies already had buildings destroyed and employees attacked. Last thing I need is a scandal when I just moved here again" the man said.

Apollo registered what he said and it dawned on him; the Porsche, the expensive looking suit and the some of the EMTs and policemen fawning over him. The man must be some kind of real celebrity. Apollo wanted to see if he could recognise his face but the problem with remembering basically everything is that at time it took a while for him to find the memory he was looking for so he settled for doing the human thing, he opened his mouth and was going to ask him his name but was interrupted as he heard his father arrive. His Dad came running down to where they were at the river bank.

"Apollo, Apollo are you alright?" Jonathan asked as he looked at and checked his son.

"I'm fine Dad" Apollo reassured him.

"Who's the maniac that was driving that car?" Jonathan shouted out wanting answers.

"That would be me" the man said as he walked up to Jonathan sticking out his hand so he could shake it.

"Justin Hammer" he said as he looked into Jonathan's eyes.

Jonathan looked down at his hand and wanted to shake his hand but he was mad that someone almost hit his son with a car out of recklessness. Someone exposing Apollo's secret, endangering themselves and Apollo due to their own negligence was something that made him mad and of course it was someone who was immensely rich and privileged. Jonathan couldn't bring himself to shake Justin's hand. Instead he took off his jacked and wrapped it around his son as Justin withdrew his hand.

"I'm Jonathan Kent, this is my son" Jonathan simply told him trying to hide the anger in his voice.

"Thanks again for saving my life" Justin told him his tone dripping with gratitude.

"I'm sure you would've done the same thing" Apollo told him as he softly smiled at him. Apollo then stood up and began walking away with his Dad.

"You have quite an extraordinary boy there Mr. Kent if there's anyway I can repay you" Justin said as he walked next to Jonathan. Jonathan simply turned and looked at Justin as if trying to read his intentions.

"Drive slower" Jonathan said firmly his anger very evident and Justin humbly nodded as Jonathan and Apollo walked away.

Apollo looked back at Justin and gave him a friendly wave goodbye which made Justin smile. Justin then turned and watched as his Porsche was pulled out of the river and he stared at it its wrecked state in bewilderment. Apollo meanwhile got in his Dad's truck and they drove back to the farm in silence. Apollo had been wondering if his life would just be saving people while being reviled and saving Justin and seeing him smile made him realise it didn't matter, helping people was what mattered. He didn't know if the world would ever accept him but he knew he could use his power to save people here in his home and if he could save people then he would. It's like his Mum used to tell him; kindness, compassion, being a friend to people, is the least anyone can do but means the most to those who need it.

---

Location: Kent Farm, Smallville, Kansas - 2003

Apollo got home and after showering and helping around on the farm Apollo went to the barn. Apollo had been going to the barn to be alone with his thoughts basically his whole life. His parents began to jokingly call it his 'Fortress of Solitude'. Apollo would chuckle at that sometimes. Apollo climbed up the staircase to the top floor of the barn and looked through the stack of books he kept in his mini personal library, speed reading a few before beginning to read 'The Portable Nietzsche'. Apollo had always liked reading books by various philosophers and having finished reading Kant beginning on reading through another famous philosopher who was inspired by him felt right. Apollo read a little at regular speed before he noticed how beautiful the sunset was, he put the book down and walked towards the window to look out at it. He heard footsteps coming up the steps and he knew it was Skye. He was a little ashamed of how he had acted when they had been at the Torch together so he didn't know what to say. He turned to face her and was about to apologise but she wasn't looking at him instead she was sifting through the book he left on his table.

"Nietzsche. I didn't realise you had a dark side Apollo" Skye said as she looked at him a warm smile on her face.

"Doesn't everybody? Apollo nervously answered as he smiled back at her.

"Yeah I guess so..." Skye said as she looked at him and put the book down.

Skye walked up to him and the two stared at one another briefly. She kindly smiled at him as she held his hands.

"So what are you, Man or Superman?" Skye asked a playful and questioning expression her face.

"I haven't figured it out yet" Apollo answered.

Skye chuckled at his response and then just hugged him. Apollo smiled to himself, a lot of the times he felt like he didn't deserve her.

"By the way I'm sorry for how I acted back at the Torch, I guess as someone who's been called a freak a lot seeing people make headlines about people who are different and demonise them and make them seem inhuman without caring about how those people actually feel made me mad" Apollo finally said still feeling like he needed to address how he acted before.

"I'm not the one you need to apologise to. Chloe felt really hurt when you just ran off like that" Skye said to him.

"I know, I'll apologise to her tomorrow" Apollo said as he turned and faced Skye.

Skye reached up and took off his glasses so she could truly look into Apollo's eyes. Apollo looked back at her and then leaned down and left a soft kiss on her lips. She smiled at him and then the two of them turned back to look at the sunset. Skye stood in front of Apollo and he wrapped his arms around her, Apollo was tall enough that she only reached his lower chest so she leaned back a little on to his chest. The two watched the sunset together and Apollo felt at peace.

"Are you nervous about the game?" Skye asked.

"A little" Apollo admitted, it was a big game and there was a lot of pressure on him.

"They're college scouts coming from all over to watch you play, I can't imagine the pressure of something like that" Skye said to him.

"It's not even that, well it's a little that but the part that's making me nervous is everyone's putting their hopes on to me, from Whitney and the rest of the team, to the teachers and our classmate, even the paramedics and cops I met today and I guess I'm not yet sure of how to deal with that" Apollo told her.

"If there's anyone strong enough to hold the towns hopes up and lead it's you" Skye reassured him and Apollo smiled touched by how much faith she put in him.

"Wait what do you mean paramedics and cops?" Skye asked and Apollo winced realising he hadn't told her about getting run over on the bridge then saving the guy who ran him over's life.

"I kinda saved Justin Hammer's life after he nearly hit me with his car on the Loeb bridge" Apollo informed her.

"You saved Justin Hammer?" Skye said in amazement.

"Yeah" Apollo replied.

"That's amazing! Are you okay? Did you get to talk to him? What's he like?" Skye asked rattling off questions.

"I'm okay, not even a scratch on me and I did talk to him very briefly and he seems nice" Apollo answered.

"I'm glad you're okay but remember what you promised me okay?" Skye told him.

"Don't worry I remember" Apollo told her giving her a peck on the cheek as reassurance.

Skye smiled and the sun finally set giving way to night. The two of them spent the evening looking at the stars and talking about their futures. Apollo talked about what colleges he could see himself going to and Skye talked about her own college prospects as they tried to match up their dream colleges.

"What about you? How're you finding cheerleading? Do you want to stick it out for all of high school cause I know you're against it but a cheer scholarship would help a lot" Apollo said to her as they talked about scholarships they could get to help their parents pay for college.

Apollo knew she may have been a member of the cheer team but she had reservations not just about the scholarship but cheerleading as a whole.

"I don't know how I'm feeling about cheerleading to be honest. It's why I'm so unsure about trying to get a scholarship for it in the first place. When I'm out there cheering, doing routines and watching you play I feel nice but the competitions and everything outside of the moments I'm spreading cheer feel so empty. I don't want to get to college and then feel dragged down by the thing that got me in in the first place. I feel like there's more for me out there than just being the typical cheerleader" Skye told him.

Apollo listened to her and thought about how that echoed how he felt about his gifts at times. How he felt that there was more for him out there but he didn't know what. He hugged Skye tightly.

"Well pom-poms or no, I'll always support you" Apollo told Skye and she smiled.

"I know" Skye said as she kissed him.

The kiss got more passionate turning into a full on make-out session as the two teens let themselves forget about the outside world and the future and just enjoy being together.

---

The next morning Apollo Kent awoke to a surprise. He walked outside to find a brand new truck with a blue ribbon on top. Apollo got excited and ran up to his Mum.

"Hey Ma, whose truck?" Apollo asked.

"Yours. It's a gift from Justin Hammer" Ajak answered as she handed him a note.

"Dear Apollo, drive safely, always in your debt. The maniac in the Porsche" Apollo read aloud excited and happy as Ajak is watched him speculatively.

"I don't believe it" Apollo said amazed before noticing that something was missing.

He turned back to his Ma and asked "Where are the keys?"

"Your father has them" Ajak told him and Apollo began to feel worried.

Jonathan meanwhile was feeding wood into a large chipper. Apollo walked over to his father, his joyous expression from before had faded and instead he seemed confused. Jonathan noticing him turns off the machine and pulls off his ear protectors and goggles bracing himself for the conversation he was about to have.

"I know how much you want it, son. But you can't keep it" Jonathan simply informs him as he walks past Apollo tapping his shoulder before shaking his head.

"Why not? I saved the guy's life." Apollo said argumentatively.

"So you think that you deserve a prize?" Jonathan questioned Apollo.

"That's not what I meant." Apollo replied as he followed his Dad who had gone to pick up more wood.

"Look, how about you drive the new one and I'll drive the old one? Everybody wins." Apollo offered hoping to reach a compromise with his Dad.

"This is not about winning Apollo" Jonathan told him somewhat forcefully hoping it would end the conversation and allow his son to see the bigger picture.

"It's not like the Hammers can't afford it" Apollo said stridently.

Jonathan sighed as he realised his son wasn't yet fully aware of certain truths. He turned and faced his son.

"Do you want to know why that is? Do you remember Mr. Bell? We used to go fishing on his property? How about Mr. Guy? He used to send us pumpkins every Halloween. Well they got into business with Justin's dad, Jason. Jason Hammer promised to cut them in on a deal in exchange for their land. He sent them flashy gifts" Jonathan said twirling the truck keys around on his finger to emphasise the 'flashy gifts' part.

He then took a deep breath and looked Apollo in the eyes, his expression was one of seriousness.

"Only once they sold him their property, he went back on his word. He had them evicted, Son." Jonathan finally said.

"So you're judging Justin on what his father did?" Apollo responded somewhat belligerently.

"No, Apollo, I'm not. I just want to make sure that you know where the money came from that bought that truck. Justin is not his father but his father made money ripping people off for their land and Justin has done the same since he came back here. Yes, he's built his plants and came to his home in it's time of need but men like him, people who chase money, fame and power. They use that to get away with things, sweep the bad they've done under the rug. And they have a tendency to not view people as people. They use others, abuse the system, exploit and buy people off and leave the minorities and people that society often forgets or doesn't protect about with tattered lives in their wake because that's what they had to do to become that rich."

Apollo took pause with what his father said. Letting his words wash over him. He had never thought much about the supremely wealthy simply because nobody he knew fit that category but now he was and maybe his father was right. However, could he judge Justin before he even got to know him? His Dad could be right, what if he was only sending him the gift to be flashy and sweep this incident under the rug? What if he wasn't truly sorry and merely pretending to be? On the other hand, what if this gift truly was his way of saying sorry? Maybe there was a kind person within him and if there was Apollo would be wrong not to acknowledge that somehow. But did acknowledging it mean having to keep the truck or was Apollo just being selfish? Apollo could acknowledge his apology in other ways. Would Apollo even be fighting this hard to justify keeping the gift if it wasn't something he thought was cool? Apollo looked at his father doubt now in his mind about what he should do with the truck. Jonathan put the keys in Apollo's hands.

"Look son you're going to be a man sooner rather than later so I have to trust you to make your own decisions. So I'll let you make this one, if you really want to keep the truck then keep it but ask yourself do you want to be type of person who wants monetary rewards for the good things they do or do you want to simply do good for goodness sake?" Jonathan said as he got up to continue his work leaving Apollo staring at the keys in hands.

Apollo clenched his fist and realised he couldn't keep the keys. His father was right accepting gifts for saving lives or doing good hoping to get gifts wasn't a characteristic Apollo wanted to cultivate. Especially since his father was possibly right about the Hammers. Apollo wouldn't judge Justin before getting to know him, he could see good in him just like he could see good in everyone and even if his father was right about the type of man Justin was maybe he would change, maybe Apollo could help him be better. Apollo sighed and stood up to go to school. He kissed his Mum on the cheek and walked past his father tapping his shoulder to say goodbye.

"I hate it when you're right" Apollo quipped to him and Jonathan smiled proud his son made the right decision.

"I know" Jonathan said, "now run off you don't want to be late for school".

Apollo laughed at that.

"Dad you should know by now, I could leave here a minute before the bell rings and still not be late" Apollo said somewhat cockily before blurring off at super speed to school.

Apollo arrived at school well before the bell rang and waited for Chloe outside of the Torch. Chloe saw him and Apollo nervously smiled as he pulled out the Lily's he'd gotten for her as he super sped to school.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, I'm sorry I ran off and I'm sorry I reacted so badly. I didn't mean to make you feel bad about your Wall. Can you forgive me?" Apollo said as he offered her the flowers.

Chloe just stared at him before accepting the flowers, giving them a small sniff and then she smiled at him as she let out an exasperated sigh.

"You're forgiven. You know I can't stay mad at you forever besides I've got an investigation that I kinda need your help on but trust me one of these days your farm-boy charm will run out" Chloe told him a smile on her face and Apollo smirked at her.

Apollo and her walked into the Torch and were soon joined by Pete and then Skye. He, Pete and Chloe all went through the stories they had written for today's school paper while Skye just used one of their desktops to do some 'light hacking'.

Apollo mentioned saving Justin Hammer which opened him up to a barrage of questions from Chloe. Luckily there wasn't too much of a story so Chloe didn't bother him too much although she told him she was tempted to get a story on him about all his saves at some point.

Apollo got a bit nervous at that especially with Chloe's Wall but he knew ultimately Chloe's heart was in a good place and trusted she wouldn't go too far if she ever did write a story about him.

The quartet all then sat in silence working to finish what they needed to finish before their classes.

Chloe sat at her desk, furiously typing, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she muttered under her breath. Apollo having already finished his section leaned over her shoulder, skimming the article she was working on, while Pete tossed a football in the air, catching it one-handed with a grin.

Across the room, Skye sat cross-legged on her chair, her eyes focused on the desktop in front of her, fingers drumming against the keys as lines of code scrolled down her screen.

"Well that wasn't too hard," she spoke aloud as she hacked.

Apollo glanced at her. "Do I even want to know?"

Skye shrugged innocently. "Just checking out the school's network. Nothing too illegal."

"Yeah, because that's reassuring" Pete snorted.

Chloe rolled her eyes.

"Can we please focus? We still need to finalize this week's issue, and I swear, if Deputy Principal Kwan gives me one more passive-aggressive note about my 'tone,' I'm going to lose it."

"Maybe if your tone didn't sound like you were about to start an armed rebellion…" Pete said

Chloe shot him a glare.

"Journalism is about holding the powerful accountable, Pete."

Pete leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, yeah, power to the people. We get it."

Pete finished up with his work and ran off to hang out with his girlfriend and Skye left to prepare for her first period leaving just Chloe and Apollo alone together in the Torch.

Apollo helped Chloe finalize the week's Torch article and the two casually conversed as he did so.

"Oh, get this. The inequity within the athletics department runs even deeper than we first thought. I found irrefutable proof of an attempted cover-up last summer." Chloe informed him.

"Like, in the accounting?" Apollo asked.

"You got it." Chloe said a smirk on her face, once again proud of herself for her stellar reporting.

Chloe was good at asking questions. And even better at getting answers.

"Can you believe something like this could be happening right here under our noses? At Smallville High?" Chloe said a little disbelief in her voice.

Chloe's current story centered on how much of the school budget was spent on athletics. More specifically, male athletics. Even more specifically, football. Chloe, Pete and he had investigated in secret and Chloe had apparently discovered that Principal Rice had been bloating the school's athletics budget and then stealing money from it. Essentially preying on Smallville's love of football and their willingness to donate to the school's athletics department.

The story made Apollo feel sick, he'd helped take part in one of the team's fundraisers and part of their donations came from the fact that Apollo was basically a national sensation. He couldn't believe that someone would exploit their own community like that.

Apollo shook himself out of those thoughts and listened to Chloe as she went on a tangent. This was the way it had always worked between Apollo and Chloe; whatever story she was currently working on became a big part of their conversations. Chloe liked using Apollo as a sounding board, and Apollo enjoyed being part of her investigative whirlwinds.

"Is Rice cooperating?" Apollo asked, referring to their principal.

"Oh, yes, she is." Chloe said beckoning Apollo to come look at her monitor.

"She's sent me three emails over the last two hours."

Apollo grinned. No one could make a powerful adult sweat quite like Chloe Sullivan could.

Apollo wanted to congratulate her but a sound drew his attention. Someone was crying, Apollo could feel the vibrations from their body trembling but could tell they were containing themselves. They wanted to breakdown but were holding it together. Apollo quickly filtered out all the peripheral noise and focused solely on the crying. It was a girl; she was trying and failing to compose herself.

What was wrong? he wondered. Was she hurt? No he couldn't smell or taste any blood so and her body sounded healthy so whatever was causing her distress was emotional not physical.

"What's wrong Apollo?" Chloe said having noticed the change in Apollo's demeanor.

"Nothing, I just think I hear something" Apollo said being partially honest with her.

Chloe looked at him quizzically no doubt waiting for him to elaborate.

"Wait here, there's something I gotta do real fast" Apollo told her.

"Sounds mildly intriguing. What's up? Having another Kent premonition" Chloe said raising an eyebrow.

Kent premonitions were what Chloe called it when Apollo noticed things nobody else did. Apollo believed Chloe thought he was mildly psychic and Apollo let her think that because better she thinks that he's psychic than know he's an alien who could hear the heartbeats of almost everyone in Smallville with ease.

"Something like that, I'll be right back" Apollo said before walking to the door he opened it and saw Principal Rice standing in the doorway of the Torch, wearing her usual gray power suit.

Speak of the devil Apollo thought.

"Chloe, can I have a quick word?" Principal Rice said.

Apollo and Chloe shared a knowing glance.

Apollo turned back to Chloe and whispered, "Meet you at the front steps in ten?"

Chloe nodded and turned to Principal Rice.

"Of course, ma'am. Would you like to speak in your office or are you comfortable here?" Chloe said still confident.

Apollo watched Principal Rice and Chloe have a little stare down before Principal Rice eventually took a seat. Apollo knew Chloe would be alright so he then turned his attention back to the crying. He followed the sound through the freshman locker hall and past the gym, where the women's basketball team was warming up. The sound eventually led him to an empty classroom halfway across the school.

He recognized the girl right away.

Gloria Alvarez.

A senior he'd always admired as a person from afar. She was one of the few people at Smallville High who were able to navigate effortlessly across multiple social groups. One day she'd be eating lunch in the library with the Latinx Book Club. The next day Apollo would see her laughing in the halls with Skye and the other cheerleaders. He also knew she was one of the smartest kids in the school, her and Skye were the only people in the school that were able to do advanced coding. Skye was better than her but Gloria was definitely no slouch.

Gloria sat at a desk in the front row, hunched over, wiping tears with a bundled tissue. At first she didn't notice Apollo in the doorway, so he simply stood there and watched her, feeling awkward. She clearly wasn't in any danger and wanted to be alone so Apollo didn't know exactly how to approach her.

After a moment he took a tentative step forward and cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, but…are you okay?" Apollo asked Gloria.

Gloria looked up at Apollo, startled. Her eyes red, cheeks streaked with tears.

"Sorry," Apollo mumbled, averting his gaze.

"I just—I was passing by or whatever and…" He studied her again. "What's wrong?" Apollo said crouching down so he was eye level with her and giving her a warm and friendly smile

"Everything." Gloria stood up, then froze, staring at him. "People are disappearing," she snapped, "and no one in this town even cares."

Her words caught Apollo completely off guard. "Who?"

She shook her head and tried to push past him, out the door but Apollo enveloped her in a hug. Apollo may have been confused about what was causing her to cry but he knew that she needed someone who would listen. Apollo could tell she felt helpless and he needed her to know she wasn't.

"I don't know what you're talking about but I do know one thing somebody in this town does care" Apollo said.

"Oh yeah, who?" Gloria said her voice angry.

"Me, tell me what you're talking about and I'll do what I can to help. If people are really disappearing me and my friend Chloe can write a story about it, get people informed and make them care" Apollo said warmly to her.

Gloria nodded and the two walked to the front steps to meet Chloe. Apollo walked silently with her not wanting to push her to talk more if she wasn't comfortable and all he could think about while they walked was; people were disappearing from Smallville?

Apollo brought her to the front steps of the school where he found Chloe seated. She looked smug so Apollo knew her conversation with Principal Rice went well. Apollo walked up to Chloe who was about to most likely gloat about however her meeting with Principal Rice went before she noticed Gloria and saw that her eyes were puffy from crying.

"What's going on?" Chloe questioned.

"Gloria's got a story" Apollo told Chloe and Chloe instantly went into investigative reporter mode.

"Let's go to the Torch we can talk privately there" Chloe said and the trio walked to the Torch to hear what Gloria had to say.

"Start from the beginning" Chloe said as they sat down inside the Torch.

Chloe had her notepad out and Apollo was just watching Gloria and warmly smiled at her as a show of assurance.

"It started over a month ago. People in our community, you know Latino's and migrant workers began to go missing. There was such a huge influx of us that I guess nobody really noticed. It wasn't enough to arise suspicion people just figured they found different work elsewhere you know. However, the more time passed the more it began to be difficult to ignore. People who'd been working as farm hands or maids were just gone. Like they disappeared" Gloria said.

"Why didn't the cops get notified? If this disappearance is as big as you're saying why didn't you tell the Sherriff?" Chloe questioned.

"Are you kidding me? There could be a law that allows the cops to just stop and search our community without any warrant or probable cause? Cops aren't really high up on people we can trust. Besides some of the people who went missing were undocumented, even if cops found them we'd never see them again. Obviously the one's that aren't undocumented were reported. Like my…" Gloria choked back tears clearly what she was trying to say was very difficult for her.

"Hey it's okay, I know this is difficult but we're here to help we promise" Apollo said as he handed her some tissues.

Gloria wiped her tears and steeled herself.

"Like my boyfriend Francisco. He went to work on one of the Mankins farms. His parents needed the extra money and they were looking for extra field hands. But then one day he just disappeared" Gloria said.

A silence hung in the room. Chloe stared at Gloria her mind spinning at a million miles an hour trying to figure out what this could possibly mean.

"I went straight to Deputy Sheriff McNally's office. I told them Francisco was missing, that I was worried something happened to him." She took a shaky breath. "And they just… dismissed me. Said boys run off all the time, especially ones like them."

Apollo's expression darkened. "Ones like them?"

Gloria nodded bitterly. "Yeah. Immigrant kids. Farmhands. They acted like I was overreacting and whenever we go the station they act like we're an annoyance. It's clear nobody cares about a couple of brown kids going missing" Gloria basically spat out, her disdain for the police very clear in her voice.

Gloria took a breath composing herself a little.

"But this morning when I stopped by, I heard McNally's department put out a notice about him—saying him and his friend attacked a supervisor, stole from the farm, and ran." She shook her head. "That doesn't make sense. Francisco wouldn't do that"

Apollo and Chloe looked at one another and Apollo could already tell Chloe was formulating a plan.

"They went from 'nothing to worry about' to 'they're dangerous criminals' overnight?" Apollo asked, eyes narrowing. "That's not just odd. That's a cover-up."

Chloe flipped to a fresh page in her notepad.

"So, to recap—a farm worker goes missing, they disappear, the sheriff's department refuses to treat it like a missing person case, and suddenly, they're fugitives?" Chloe asked.

"Pretty much, nobody seems to care. Especially the police." Gloria answered.

"Well unlike some of the police we actually do care about brown kids going missing" Apollo reassured her.

"Yeah we'll find him and figure out what's going on. If I could take out Principal Rice and come out unscathed then why would I be afraid of some cops?" Chloe told her confidently.

Gloria chuckled a smile appearing on her face for the first time in a while.

"We'll get to the bottom of this, I've already got a little bit of a plan brewing" Chloe said.

Gloria nodded and looked to the two of them. A part of her thought about how ridiculous it was that her last hopes were a bunch of people in the school two years below her but she was mostly glad to feel support for the first time in weeks.

The trio finished up the interview, shaken by what they heard but determined to get to the bottom of it.

He and Chloe immediately filled in Skye and Pete on everything and to say they were shocked would be an understatement.

"Disappearing? That's crazy!" Skye said louder than she would've liked. Luckily nobody was paying attention to them and they weren't given any weird stares.

"I know right. I thought Chloe's freak wall would be the craziest thing we'd find out about this week" Pete added in agreement.

"It's called the 'Wall of Weird' and honestly agreed. Right now this takes precedence over anything else going on. You guys will help with the investigation?" Chloe asked.

"Of course, whatever you need" Skye said empathetically.

"It's kind of my job to help seeing as I'm a part of Torch and whatnot. Although let it be known that any expenses I incur cause of this will be billed to you" Pete said jokingly a wide smile on his face.

Skye and Apollo just rolled their eyes while Chloe playfully punched him on the shoulder.

Chloe told them the first thing they needed to do was go get records of all the people who've gone missing to see if they can get an accurate number to figure out what's really going on. So that night the quartet headed straight for the Public Records Office.

---

Location: Smallville Records Office, Smallville, Kansas - 2003

The Smallville Public Records Office was about as thrilling as a dentist's waiting room. Dim fluorescent lights hummed softly, casting a sterile glow over rows of gray metal filing cabinets and stacks of yellowed documents. The air smelled of dust and old paper, and a half-drunk cup of coffee sat abandoned on the counter near the front desk.

Apollo, Chloe, and Skye stood in front of the entrance, surveying their target.

"This is illegal, you know," Pete muttered, leaning casually against the wall outside. "Breaking and entering. Hacking into government files. Snooping through classified records."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "It's not illegal if we don't get caught."

Pete smirked. "Oh, my bad. That makes it so much better."

Apollo adjusted his glasses, scanning the building with his X-ray vision.

"There's one night guard patrolling the second floor, and security cameras at the main entrance and near the records vault." Apollo said to them.

They all looked at him dumbfounded at how he came to that conclusion.

"How do you know that Apollo?" Chloe asked.

"My Mum, used to help out here sometimes on weekends, I remember what their security used to be like and I doubt they've changed it" Apollo said lying about how he knew what he did.

He turned to Skye. "Think you can get us in?"

Skye grinned. "Please. It's like you don't even know me."

She pulled out her laptop, dropped her bag onto the sidewalk, and knelt down beside the building's exterior power box. With a flick of her wrist, she produced a small device—a customized signal disruptor she and Apollo had built together. She pried open the box, clipped a few wires, and then tapped a command into her laptop.

The security cameras glitched out.

Chloe arched an eyebrow.

"You just carry a hacking device in your bag?" Chloe questioned.

Skye smirked. "What, like you don't carry pepper spray, a voice recorder, and an emergency notepad?"

Chloe opened her mouth, then closed it. "Fair point."

Apollo sighed.

"Can we focus?" he said not wanting them to get sidetracked.

Skye finished typing, and with a final keystroke, the electronic lock on the back door clicked open.

Pete whistled. "Damn, that's hot."

Skye turned to him. "I know."

Apollo held the door open for the group as they slipped inside.

The room was silent, except for the faint hum of a ceiling fan. Rows of filing cabinets stretched from wall to wall, towering over them like silent sentinels. The air was thick with the scent of aged paper and ink.

Apollo led the way, scanning the labels on the cabinets. "We're looking for land ownership records, worker permits, anything connected to the farmlands and the people who work on them."

Skye took a seat at one of the public computers and plugged in a USB drive loaded with her own software. "You guys check the paper files. I'll see what I can pull from the digital archives."

Chloe and Pete began rifling through the cabinets, their fingers skimming over tabs. Apollo quickly scanned documents with his enhanced vision, flipping through them faster than any normal person could.

Chloe groaned. "God, this is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. A really, really corrupt haystack."

Then Apollo froze. He pulled out a yellowed document from a folder labeled 'Mankins Agricultural Holdings.' His eyes skimmed over the contents, his expression tightening.

"Chloe," he said.

She turned to him, and he handed her the document. Her eyes widened as she read.

"They've owned the land for generations—but look at the last few months." She traced a finger down the page. "They've been buying up neighboring farms and even plots of land that you can't even farm on, expanding way beyond what a simple farming business would need."

Pete peered over her shoulder. "Why do that if all you do is grow corn?"

Apollo glanced at Skye. "What do you have?"

Skye's fingers flew across the keyboard.

"Give me a sec… I just cracked into the county's employment records—" She suddenly stopped, her eyes widening.

"What?" Apollo asked.

Skye beckoned them to the desktop so they could see the screen.

"The workers McNally claimed ran away? They never officially existed. No paperwork. No visas. No permits. No tax records. Nothing. It's like they were ghosts." Skye said.

Chloe's face paled. "Which means if anything happened to them…"

"No one would ever know," Apollo finished grimly.

A sudden noise echoed through the building.

Footsteps.

They all froze.

Apollo listened. One person. Slow. Heavy boots against the linoleum floor. The night guard was making his rounds.

"We gotta go," Pete whispered.

Skye yanked out her USB drive. Apollo shoved the documents into his jacket. Chloe quickly shut the filing cabinet.

The footsteps grew louder.

They darted toward the back door. But before they could reach it, a flashlight beamed through the hallway.

"Hey! Who's there?"

Apollo reacted instantly.

With incredible speed, he grabbed Pete and Chloe by the arms and blurred behind a set of bookshelves. Skye barely had time to react before he looped an arm around her waist and pulled her with him.

The trio barely noticed how quickly Apollo grabbed and moved them.

The guard stepped into the room, shining his light over the empty desks. He frowned, walking further inside.

Apollo leaned close to Skye, whispering, "Stay quiet."

Skye, pressed against his chest, swallowed. "Wasn't planning on screaming, but thanks."

Chloe, a little too close to them for her liking, scowled and muttered, "Of course she gets to be carried."

Pete had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing.

The guard stood still for a moment, scanning the room. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he grunted and turned back toward the exit.

The moment the door shut behind him, Apollo released his hold.

Pete exhaled.

"Man, I hate sneaking around" Pete said.

Chloe smirked.

"Yet, somehow, you're really good at it" Chloe quipped.

Skye grinned at Apollo.

"Nice reflexes, Kent" Skye said as she gave him a quick peck.

"Thanks, now let's get out of here before he comes back."

As they slipped out the back door and disappeared into the night, Chloe glanced at the documents Apollo had taken.

"We're getting close," she said. "The people behind this aren't just exploiting immigrants. They're erasing them."

Apollo's jaw clenched.

He wasn't going to let that continue.

Not in his town. Not on his watch.

---

The next day they left the Torch and went to their regular classes and the rest of their morning went normal for them. A few of Apollo's teachers mentioned the game happening later in the week. Apollo welcomed the good luck but was understandably a bit distracted.

Afterwards at lunch he saw that Pete and Skye were already eating and talking. Apollo and Chloe sat down with them eager to make a plan for their next step.

"My mum was talking to my Dad about the stop and search and they're really worried about how far it's gotten, they know this won't just affect immigrants but people like me and people like you" Pete was saying to Skye.

"The stop-and-search thing?" Apollo asked as he sat down. "It really is brutal and I can't believe it's even being discussed"

"Neither can I man" Pete said.

"There's no way they'll pass it though. In New York proposals like this would never go somewhere" Skye said.

"We'll vote it down; the meteor shower may have made some people more fearful of their neighbors but the people of Smallville also banded together after it too. And I believe Smallville will do the right thing" Apollo said.

"Always the optimist, aren't you Apollo?" Chloe said.

"Yes he is, and I wouldn't have it any other way" Skye answered for him, kissing him on the cheek.

Apollo blushed before gearing the conversation towards something the four of them could actually help with. The disappearing people.

"So what's the play after lunch?" Pete

"I've got some free periods. I think I'll head off to the Sherriff station and ask around about the missing people" Apollo told him

"I'll come with" Chloe said and Apollo nodded.

"You two hang back. Skye since you know Gloria you should keep her company maybe there's more she can tell you. Pete your friends with pretty much everyone, try asking around and seeing what more you can find out" Chloe ordered them, taking charge like she usually did during investigations.

"Are you going to use Hammer's truck to drive to the station" Pete questioned clearly trying to see what Apollo planned to do with the truck.

"Maybe but I think when I've got time I'll go by Hammer's house and drop off the keys. I don't think I can keep it" Apollo told him.

"You're a better man than me, I may not trust the money the Hammers have or the Hammers themselves but a truck is a truck" Pete said to him.

"Well that's cause your spine is made of taffy and Apollo's is made of steel" Skye joked to him causing Chloe and Apollo to laugh.

"Hey now, I wouldn't say taffy. I'd say like biscuit. It seems strong but any type of force and it crumbles immediately" Chloe added and they all continued to laugh at Pete.

"You guys can laugh at me all you want but when I'm rich in future don't come asking me for money" Pete told them as they finished eating.

Pete left the cafeteria to go ask around and Skye had her French test so she kissed Apollo for good luck and then left promising to hang out with Gloria afterwards. Chloe and Apollo then chatted for a bit as they finished their food before they went off to the Sheriffs station.

The two drove to the Sheriffs office and when they arrived Apollo was unsure of what his actual game plan would be. He initially planned to use his super senses to figure out exactly what was going on and then his super speed to take anything that could help the case but with Chloe here that wasn't as viable an option.

"So what's the plan exactly?" Apollo asked Chloe

"The plan's simple we just go in and ask them" she said.

Apollo frowned. "Who?"

"Whoever's in charge of the missing person's cases" Chloe replied as if what she was saying was basic knowledge.

"You're kidding, right?" Apollo said but he knew she wasn't.

Chloe had that look in her eyes that he knew all too well. It was the same look she'd gotten when she decided to investigate what percentage of the school budget was spent on the football program. Apollo tried to reason with her.

"Look, Chloe, I'm pretty sure we can't just waltz into the Sheriff's station and interview the police officers" Apollo said trying to be logical.

"Why not?" Chloe said.

"Because…well, they're probably busy, for one thing and they're not gonna grant two random high school kids an interview right there on the spot" Apollo told her and she scoffed at him.

Chloe started packing up her backpack with a sly grin on her face an investigative plan already clear in her mind.

"Apollo, I'm insulted," Chloe said. "It's as if you've never seen your best friend in action."

"I'm just being realistic we need to find an in so that they will listen to us or I bet they don't even let us in the front door" Apollo said and Chloe smirked at him.

"Watch and learn, Mr. Kent" Chloe said as she exited the truck.

---

Location: Smallville Sheriff's Office-, Smallville, Kansas - 2003

Not fifteen minutes later an assistant came from the back room to let them speak to the officer in charge of missing persons, they found themselves sitting on some chairs right outside of Deputy McNally' office.

"Deputy McNally will see you now" the assistant said.

"I stand corrected," Apollo whispered as he and Chloe hoisted themselves off their chairs and walked into his office.

Chloe had a cocky grin feeling confident and completely in her element

"You never get answers if you don't ask questions" Chloe said as they opened the door into the Deputy's office.

Deputy McNally was seated at his desk wearing his uniform. His brown hair was shaved into a buzz cut and his dark brown eyes s seemed to gleam with hunger as he watched the two of them sit down. Like a lion watching its prey walk into its territory. He stood up and reached his hand out from behind his desk for them to shake it.

"Deputy McNally pleased to meet you" Deputy McNally said as Chloe reached out and shook his hand.

"I'm Chloe Sullivan. And this is my associate, Apollo Kent" Chloe replied.

Deputy McNally looked at Apollo and shook his hand as well.

"Oh Apollo I know, we met when the Mankins had that unfortunate crash a few weeks ago and everyone on the force knows he's got a hero complex" McNally said and Apollo winced.

McNally noticed this and seemingly decided to put him at ease.

"Honestly we'd give him a lot more flack for it but ultimately he's saved lives and it helps that he's town's greatest athlete" Deputy McNally said being friendlier than either of them anticipated.

Deputy McNally motioned for them to sit down in the chairs across from his desk and the pair did so.

"Sorry I don't have a lot of time this afternoon but I'll do my best" McNally said to them.

"We appreciate you giving us any time at all," Chloe told him as she and Apollo settled into the chairs. "I'm sure you're a busy man."

"Right you are Miss Sullivan so let's get on with your questions, shall we?" McNally said to her smiling amicably but Apollo could still see the predatory look in his eyes.

"Well we're here to ask about the missing people. Some of our students have informed us that several people have been reported missing but the police have yet to do anything about it" Chloe said her expression determined and unyielding.

"Is that so Miss Sullivan. Who are these students?" McNally asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"I'm not at liberty to say" Chloe sharply replied and McNally chuckled.

"Not even a senior and already such a stout reporter. It's impressive Miss Sullivan" McNally said.

"Thank you Deputy McNally but you still haven't answered my question" Chloe simply told him.

"Well whoever gave you your information is woefully misinformed. That's the thing with anonymous sources you never know if you can trust them. I assure you I am personally looking into the disappearances and treating them with the importance they deserve. Do you want to know the truth Miss Sullivan, most of the people disappearing are simply running away because they know once the stop and search law passes they'll be discovered for forging their papers and be deported. Even the ones who claim to be here legally are often protecting family who aren't. Your friend or whoever told you about the missing people left out several key details no doubt, mainly that we did inform them what happened to their friends or family and that's that they ran away. Buckling under the fear they would be discovered or lead to the discovery of someone else" Deputy McNally said his voice calm and smooth.

Chloe and Apollo listened to him. What he said sounded perfectly logical, they weren't close to Gloria she very well could've omitted these details the McNally was saying and if any other kids were seated in these seats no doubt they would've been swayed by his words.

However, Apollo wasn't any other kid. He could hear the Deputies heartbeat and he knew he was lying. Apollo clenched his fists in rage, how could a man who took an oath to serve and protect be lying about something as serious as this. Apollo held himself back knowing he couldn't afford to make a scene.

A knock on the door ended the silence that had fallen upon the room and the Deputies assistant informed him that someone important was here to see him.

"I'm sorry it appears that's all we have time for, please let yourselves out and take a candy from the front desk" Deputy McNally said as he walked out.

Chloe and Apollo watched him leave then turned to each other and said in unison.

"He's lying."

Chloe smiled happy that they were in sync.

"He talks well and preys on the beliefs people have about Latinx people but Gloria wasn't lying about Francisco. No son would run away after just getting a job to help his struggling family" Chloe said.

"Agreed" Apollo said.

"I wish we could snoop around a little" Chloe said desperate to look for clues.

Chloe glanced at the missing person's files he had on his desk skim reading through them desperate for something, anything that could help their case.

Apollo was way ahead of her in that regard he already began x-raying the Deputies office. Nothing suspicious was here aside from two things. He had a personal laptop in his front desk. Which was odd considering he had a desktop. Why would he need a private laptop? He also had a gun that had its serial number scratched off, Apollo even recognized the model, it was a 44 magnum. Why would a cop need an unlicensed gun? Apollo stopped x-raying the room as he and Chloe were being ushered out of the Deputies office by his assistant.

The two walked out of the office and saw that the Deputy was talking to Montgomery Mankins the father of Bryan and Corey. Corey was hanging back behind his father as he talked to the deputy but Bryan wasn't around. Apollo instantly began eavesdropping on their conversation not caring about how it was an invasion of privacy.

"It'll be up and running once again soon. Take it, and in a few days, use it and make sure you nip this in the bud quickly, this has already gone on far too long Jed and if we want everything to go smoothly this needs to be dealt with. Do not mess this up, our dealings with the Japanese are too important for a hiccup like this to get in the way. Too much is at stake especially for myself and Corey" Montgomery Mankins ordered as he handed the Deputy something.

It was the same flash drive that Doctor Wesley saved from the crash. The Deputy nodded and placed the drive in his pocket. Apollo needed to get that drive.

Chloe saw Montgomery Mankins talking with the Deputy and her eyes lit up like she realized something.

"What?" Apollo said noticing her expression.

"Most of the missing people they were field hands right? Montgomery Mankins owns the largest collection of farms in Smallville and it's all of his properties that are being used. And you can bet that the extra plots of land he's buying tie back to these disappearances. Odds are he's not oblivious to a few of his workers going missing but rather that he's the head of the snake" Chloe said and Apollo looked at the elder Mankins a similar frightening idea forming in his mind.

"I am going to talk to him" Chloe told Apollo not caring if he disproved or not.

Chloe rushed over to them and while usually Apollo wasn't a fan of how Chloe could just force her way into places for a story without care he was a fan of it now. It gave him time to make a plan. He quickly scanned the precinct and saw a similar flash drive on somebody's desk. Apollo swiped it his hands moving faster than any eye or camera could track and put it in his pocket. His Aunty Makkari would probably feel a weird sense of pride knowing Apollo was using his super speed to 'borrow' things.

"Hello Montgomery Mankins, Deputy McNally fancy seeing you two talk" Chloe said.

Deputy McNally clenched his jaw but Montgomery Mankins instantly put on the same charming expression Corey did when he first met him. That must be where he picked up that behaviour Apollo thought, however his father was far better and more believable than his son.

"Is it? I like any citizen of Smallville am not above coming in to commend the Sheriff's station on all of their hard work. After all I am one of the biggest donors to the policeman's fund" Montgomery Mankins said suavely.

"I guess you are but still trekking all the way to the police station to personally see the Deputy is quite something. You two must be close. Perhaps from all the times the cops come to forcefully stop all the protests at your offices over the rights of undocumented workers? Maybe you have him on speed dial like your own personal 911 for when Latino's fight for their rights too much for your liking" Chloe said as she looked the elder Mankins in his eyes.

Apollo smiled at Chloe, damn she was good.

Montgomery clearly wasn't expecting that jab and clenched his jaw at the accusation.

"My company and I universally condemn any form of bigotry and would never discriminate against any group of people based on race or gender" Montgomery Mankins said.

Chloe opened her mouth to respond but the Sheriff intervened and grabbed Chloe.

"Miss Sullivan I answered your questions and let you into the precinct. This impromptu interview with Montgomery Mankins hasn't been sanctioned and your slanderous statements are untrue, unwelcomed and unappreciated" Deputy McNally said.

Gripping her arm forcefully like he wanted to drag her out of the precinct.

Apollo intervened and grabbed the Deputy Sheriffs arm, one thing Apollo hated was bullies and right now the Deputy was trying to use his strength to intimidate Chloe. He was nothing more than a bully with a badge and Apollo wouldn't let him bully his friend.

"You know what else is unappreciated is you putting your hands on a minor who is simply asking questions" Apollo said as he moved the Deputy's arm.

The Deputy got in Apollo's face and Apollo met his angry gaze. Apollo puffed up his chest and stood up straight his full height allowing him to tower over the Deputy.

"That's enough" Montgomery Mankins said to the Deputy.

Deputy McNally turned to Montgomery Mankins and then walking past Apollo intentionally bumping into Apollo and while usually Apollo would just let them bump past he was angry and wanted to show the Deputy he and Chloe weren't to be intimidated. He stood his ground and the Deputy fell over like he walked into a wall. The precinct turned noticing the small scene unfolding.

Apollo fought the urge to smirk.

"Here let me help you up" Apollo said giving the Deputy his hand.

The Deputy clasped it and Apollo pulled him up and patted him down helping him get the dirt from the floor off him. Once again moving his hands faster than anything could register Apollo stole the flash drive from Deputy McNally pocket and replacing it with the one he had taken earlier.

The Deputy nodded to Apollo looking him up and down and then walked away.

"Sorry about that" Montgomery Mankins said to the two of them.

"It's alright" Apollo said having calmed down now that he had the flash drive.

"No it isn't. I am no idiot. I know who you are Apollo. Whenever I turn on the local news I feel like all I see is stories about your brilliance on the football field or basketball court or baseball pitch" Montgomery Mankins told him.

"I can't have Smallville's 'Ultimate' being abused in my presence. Especially since you've not only met my boys but saved one of them am I correct?" Montgomery Mankins said.

"Yes, sir." Apollo said as he nodded.

"Well, I need to thank you for being so gracious after their little debacle. Bryan told me you and your father rushed to help them and were extremely helpful. He called you in particular a hero. I know there weren't any property damages per se, but I'd like to offer some compensation just the same" Montgomery Mankins said as he pulled out his checkbook from his inner breast pocket.

"No, thank you, sir," Apollo interjected. "My father won't take a penny, trust me."

The man closed his checkbook and put it back into his pocket.

"Now, you're sure about this?" Montgomery asked.

"They landed in an empty, muddy field" Apollo stated simply and Montgomery Mankins nodded.

"Well then if you'll excuse me I'll be going" Montgomery Mankins told them as he walked away.

He shared a nod to both Chloe and Apollo.

"Corey let's go" the elder Mankins said to his son as the two exited the police station.

"We should go too" Apollo said rushing Chloe out much to her confusion.

The two walked and entered Apollo's truck and Chloe looked disappointed like she wanted more from the trip.

"Apollo what the hell? A good reporter doesn't just give up" Chloe told him.

"We're not giving up; we're driving off before we get caught" Apollo said turning the truck on.

"What are you talking about?" Chloe questioned her confusion growing.

Apollo pulled the flash drive from his pocket and smiled at Chloe.

"This is what Montgomery Mankins came all the way to the police station to give the Deputy. What do you say Chloe want to take a look and see what's on it?" Apollo said to a cocky smile on his face.

"I fricking love you right now Apollo. How did you pickpocket him?" Chloe said in amazement.

"You have your skills and I have mine" Apollo replied simply as the duo drove off back to the Torch.

They raced back to the Torch and found Skye, Pete and Gloria all there. No doubt the three of them waiting to hear what if anything they found out from the police station.

"How'd it go?" Gloria immediately said as they entered the room.

"You were right about the cops not caring. Deputy McNally is a piece of work" Chloe answered.

Gloria looked a little crestfallen like she was hoping for more than just confirmation of what she already knew.

"But we didn't leave empty handed" Apollo said as he took out the flash drive.

"What is that?" Skye asked.

"It's a flash drive, I noticed that Doctor Wesley had it a few weeks ago when they crashed on my farm. That day I thought they were looking for something but they said they were taking atmospheric measurements. However, Doctor Wesley went out of his way to make sure he had this flash drive and both he and McNally spoke briefly. And then today Montgomery Mankins came to the station to personally give this to him" Apollo told them.

"That's definitely odd but Mankins has a lot of police connections this could be unrelated" Pete said.

"I don't think so. Most of the people who have been reported missing were working for Mankins when they disappeared" Chloe said.

"You guys actually think Mankins is connected to the disappearances" Skye said a little in disbelief.

"One thing you learn very quickly as a reporter is don't take people at face value. Everyone has secrets and the rich and powerful usually have the darkest secrets of all" Chloe told Skye.

"So what, you think Montgomery Mankins is some kind of villain?" Skye said.

"Let's find out" Apollo replied as he took the flash drive and put into Chloe's desktop.

The computer began to read the flash drive but the files were blocked. The flash drive was encrypted you would need to know the password to gain access.

"Damn. It's encrypted" Apollo said in frustration.

Skye's eyebrow shot up and she smiled at her boyfriend. Gloria and her then exchanged glances smiling at one another.

"Not for long" Skye told Apollo and he got up.

Skye sat down in the seat Apollo had previously been sitting in and Gloria pulled a chair to sit by Skye. Skye began typing away.

"This encryption is insanely complex. I can't get through it as easy as all the other one's I've gone through. Do you guys mind if I take it home with me and work on it there?" Skye asked.

"Sure, but is it not worrying how relaxed you are about hacking. This could be dangerous and what you'd be doing is a crime you know" Chloe said.

"So is stealing" Gloria replied simply before offering some input to Skye on how to beat the encryption the flash drive had.

"Chloe clearly this is bigger than any of us imagined and whatever's on here could be the key to solving this case and finding Francisco. So I'll take the risk, the truth shouldn't be kept from people no matter how ugly it is" Skye said.

"Okay I was just checking because I don't mind the cops going after me for my stories but I would never want to put my friends in danger" Chloe told them.

"That's sweet of you Chloe but we're past that. It'll be okay, you guys keep doing what you do and Gloria and I will work our magic" Skye said a confident smile on her face.

"Yes ma'am" Apollo said to her smiling because his girlfriend truly was amazing.

The group left for the day but they left with a renewed sense of purpose. They may not have answers yet but they were closer than they were a few days ago. They knew for certain the Mankins were involved and they had something that could potentially blow the story wide open.

They would uncover the secret behind the disappearances and Apollo would save Francisco and everyone else that was being abused.

---

Two days after their break-in at the records office, the group gathered in The Torch's newsroom, sifting through everything they'd uncovered. The office was cluttered with open folders, stacks of printouts, and empty coffee cups. A whiteboard stood against the wall, covered in notes and theories written in Chloe's messy scrawl.

"So," Pete said, spinning a marker between his fingers. "We've got illegal workers with no records, a sheriff covering up disappearances, and a wealthy family expanding farmland for no apparent reason. That's three separate problems that all lead back to the Mankins."

Skye scrolled through her laptop, scanning her hacked files. "It gets worse. I found land survey reports—something's off. The Mankins aren't just farming." She turned the laptop toward them. "The Mankins have been making reinforcements under their property. It's way more than just expanding their farmland—they're digging for something."."

Chloe frowned. "What are they digging for?"

"That's the million-dollar question." Skye scrolled down the document. "They built underground tunnels—big ones. That's not farming. That's mining."

Apollo stood, slipping on his jacket. "Let's check it out."

Chloe gave him a look. "We're just going to waltz onto one of the most corrupt families' farms in the middle of the night?"

Apollo leaned in, frowning.

"What? You say that like it's hard" Apollo said in a teasing tone challenging her.

Chloe rolled her eyes and then the two smirked at one another, Chloe meeting his challenge.

"So we sneak onto the Mankin property, find out what they're hiding, and don't get shot?"

Apollo shrugged. "Unless you have a better idea."

Pete grinned. "Yeah. Don't get caught."

---

Location: Mankins' Farm, Smallville, Kansas - 2003

The four of them crept through the tall cornstalks of the Mankins' farm, the moonlight casting long shadows over the fields. The air smelled of damp soil and fertilizer, and the occasional chirp of crickets was the only sound breaking the silence.

Apollo led the way, his enhanced hearing picking up distant voices. He gestured for the group to stop.

"There's a work site ahead," he whispered.

Chloe and Pete crouched lower, while Skye checked her phone.

"According to the blueprints I found, there should be an old barn nearby. It might be where they're keeping the workers."

As they moved forward, the field suddenly gave way to a massive open pit.

The sight made them stop in their tracks.

The hole stretched over a hundred feet wide, surrounded by heavy machinery and floodlights. Dozens of workers—all of them immigrants—were being forced to dig. Their faces were gaunt, their clothes tattered, and their hands blistered from constant labor. Armed guards stood at the edges, shouting orders.

Pete clenched his fists. "This isn't a farm. It's a damn work camp."

Apollo's stomach twisted. His gaze shifted toward the far side of the dig site, where a group of Japanese men in suits stood watching the operation.

"Who the hell are they?" Skye whispered.

Chloe pulled out her camcorder, zooming in. "They don't look like farmers. More like… businessmen?"

Apollo focused his vision on the far side of the site—where the group of Japanese men in suits stood near a row of crates. Their expressions were unreadable, watching the forced labor with an unsettling calm.

One of them stood apart.

A man with long, flowing black hair and pale skin, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit and wearing a dark pair of sunglasses. A katana hung at his side.

His presence alone made the air feel heavier.

The others seemed to report to him.

Pete pulled out his camera and began taking pictures. "We need to get proof."

Apollo x-rayed the tunnels and was disturbed by how deep the digging was going. Digging that far underground meant they were searching for something ancient.

Pete noticed his expression. "What is it?"

"They're digging for something old," Apollo said. "Something dangerous."

Chloe continued her recording—then stiffened.

A loud shout rang out from the dig site. A commotion quickly erupted from the far side of the pit.

One of the workers—a young man with a bruised face—tried to make a run for it and sprinted toward the tree line.

The nearest guard raised his gun.

Apollo moved before thinking.

In an instant, he was across the clearing, striking the guard's wrist and sending the gun flying. The man collapsed, unconscious.

The worker gasped, eyes wide.

Apollo's friends saw nothing—just the guard suddenly on the ground.

Pete and Skye moved to help the worker, but before they could—

A sharp whistle pierced the night.

From the shadows of the pit, figures emerged.

Their movements were silent, their faces hidden beneath dark masks.

They wore black and crimson armor, swords gleaming under the lights.

Skye's breath hitched.

"Uh, guys? Those are ninjas."

Pete groaned. "Of course there are ninjas."

Chloe and Pete ducked for cover, while Skye pulled out a Taser.

Their leader—the pale man—nodded once.

The ninjas attacked.

The first ninja struck at Pete—before he could react, a precise chop to the neck knocked him unconscious.

Skye tried to get one with her taser, but a blur of motion disarmed her in seconds. A knee slammed into her stomach, and she crumpled to the ground.

Chloe barely ducked away in time, scrambling behind a piece of machinery.

Apollo turned to face them, his fists tightening.

The ninjas hesitated.

One of them lunged. Apollo sidestepped effortlessly, grabbed his wrist, and flung him into a nearby crate.

Two more came from behind. Apollo dodged their blades with inhuman precision. A punch to the chest sent one flying backward, while a casual backhand shattered another's sword in half.

The leader of the group watched the fight unfold. Even with the sunglasses on you could tell there was intrigue in his eyes.

He gave a short hand signal.

Three ninjas attacked at once.

Apollo let them come.

The first tried a downward slash—Apollo caught the blade with his bare hand. Before the ninja could react, Apollo's grip crushed the steel like paper.

The second ninja swung low—Apollo pivoted, elbowing him in the ribs hard enough to knock the air from his lungs.

The third leaped at him from behind—Apollo didn't move, shifting his weight and planting himself into the ground. The ninja's own momentum lead him to crash into Apollo and he immediately crumpled.

The others hesitated.

Their leader—the man in shades with the katana—watched with cold amusement.

He tilted his head. "Impressive."

Then he turned to the remaining ninjas. "Enough."

At once, the assassins disappeared into the shadows, retreating as suddenly as they had arrived.

Apollo stood among the wreckage of the fight, unscathed.

Pete groaned from the ground. "What the hell was that…?"

Skye coughed. "Ninjas. There were actual ninjas."

Apollo knelt to help them up. "You guys okay?"

Chloe ran over, breathless. "What just happened?! I was hiding, and then you—"

Pete frowned. "Wait, how did you not get hit? Those guys dropped me in two seconds."

Apollo shrugged. "Guess I got lucky."

Pete muttered. "Yeah, right."

Skye groaned, rubbing her stomach. "Let's just grab our evidence and get the hell out of here."

Apollo cast one last look toward the Japanese men in suits.

The pale man—the one with the katana—was watching him from afar.

Their gazes met. Apollo's eyes finding the man's sunglasses. Something seemed to flicker behind them.

And for a moment, Apollo could tell—this wasn't over.

Then the man turned, stepping into a black car.

The engines roared to life, and the group drove away, vanishing into the night.

Apollo clenched his fists.

Something big was happening in Smallville.

And he was going to find out what.

The group made it back to The Torch, bruised but alive. Chloe immediately began writing. Pete grabbed an ice pack. Skye transferred the video Chloe had captured onto a hard drive along with her pictures.

"This is gonna make front-page news" Chloe said.

Apollo nodded.

"We're not stopping here. Not yet"

"Obviously" Chloe said.

Skye leaned back in her chair. "I just have one question."

Apollo glanced at her. "Yeah?"

She frowned.

"Who the hell were those guys?" Skye asked.

Apollo didn't answer. He was used to having the answers, especially cause of his eidetic memory but right now he truly had no idea.

---

Location: The Torch, Smallville, Kansas - 2003

The next day Gloria and Skye were hacking the encrypted flash drive in the Torch after classes. Determined after everything last night more than ever to get to the bottom of this.

Pete, Chloe and Apollo sat back keeping an eye out to make sure they weren't disturbed. The three stood by the doorway acting like watchmen.

"A part of me still can't believe the Mankins are doing all of this?" Apollo admitted.

He was a little shocked that such a powerful and seemingly upstanding family could potentially be involved in something this dark. He remembered how much they used to donate to the fireman's drive. Or how much money they put into the Smallville Clinic where his Mum worked.

He wanted to believe the powerful were all good people because he knew what his family was capable of and yet all they did for thousands of years was protect people. He hoped that after centuries of hurting one another humanity had moved to a more just and kind world where the powerful helped the weak. I guess he was still a little naïve.

"I can, the wealthy usually have enough skeletons in their closet to fill up a cemetery" Chloe replied a dark and angry glint in her eyes.

Apollo and Pete both didn't speak.

They'd been friends with Chloe long enough to know that her Dad was a blue collar worker that had been screwed over by so many wealthy and powerful people. They knew that one of the reasons Chloe was so obsessed with reporting was because to her the truth was the great equalizer. With it you could take down anyone no matter how powerful, show them they weren't as above the rest of the world as they thought and even make them pay for the pain that others suffered because of them.

Chloe clearly didn't want to talk more so she walked away from the two of them and Pete and Apollo stared at one another silently communicating at what the best way forward was with Chloe. This case leading back to the Mankins had obviously stirred up feelings in Chloe and they wanted to help their friend. Apollo wanted to go comfort Chloe, he didn't like seeing his friends unhappy but Pete insisted on letting her cool off first and eventually Apollo relented to Pete.

After that brief conversation the trio watched largely in silence as they waited for Skye and Gloria to finish hacking the flash drive. It took them quite a while, the school day was long since over and night was beginning to fall.

They knew that hacking wasn't a fast endeavor but this was taking a while and Apollo was worried about what would happen when Deputy McNally realized that Apollo had pickpocketed the drive and came looking for him.

He would be in a lot of trouble and so would everybody else and if that happened before they discovered what exactly Montgomery Mankins, Deputy McNally and Doctor Wesley then it might have all been for nothing.

It was moments like this Apollo wished he could mind read because then at least he would already know what they were hiding and Skye and everybody else wouldn't have to be taking such a big risk like this.

However, Apollo also knew all too well how every power had its own challenges. Apparently his Uncle Druig could read minds and hearing stories about him he wondered how much of a burden that must be to him. Hearing the thoughts of others and being able to control them would be a difficult ability to live with.

"Oh my god!" Skye said her voice filled with shock pulling Apollo out of his thoughts.

"What?" Chloe, Pete and Apollo said in unison racing to the computer.

"This is…. this is…" Skye started to say but seemingly couldn't the shock of whatever was on the flash drive stealing her voice.

"Those bastards. I'm going to kill them" Gloria said angrily.

She had tears in her eyes and Apollo could hear her heartbeat and even smell her pheromones. She was overflowing with rage.

"What is it? What's on the flash drive? You are kind of leaving us in suspense over here" Pete said speaking on behalf of the three of them.

"This flash drive has a tracking system on it" Skye said simply stunned.

Pete, Chloe and Apollo all hunched over to the desktop and looked at the monitor it showed a map of Smallville with several blips on them. Most of the blips were centered around one particular location by one of the Mankins farms but there were two that were in the middle of the woods.

Apollo realized that the spot they were in was a few miles from the area that the Mankins boys had been flying over with their helicopter.

"These blips are people, when you click them it links a file including their name, age, sex and location" Skye continued.

Then she clicked on the two blips in the middle of the forest.

"Those blips that are the middle of the woods near Crater Lake. Those are Carlos Diaz and Francisco Ramirez" Skye finished still processing what she was seeing just as files on the two of them showed up on screen.

The files were extensive and even included height, weight and languages spoken.

"What do they use it for?" Pete said sounding almost afraid of the answer.

"To sell them!" Gloria said her voice dripping with rage as she pointed out that at the bottom of the files on them there was a price.

Apollo saw red and for a moment he was afraid he was going to vaporize the screen with his heat vision.

"They put a tracker in them like they're animals then they auction them off and sell them!" Gloria spat out, if she was angry before speaking about this was making her damn near nuclear.

"We need to make them pay!" Chloe said her expression cold and almost murderous.

Apollo's body was filling with rage, he knew people could be violent, he knew they could be greedy but truly seeing the darkness that people were capable of first hand made his blood boil.

Apollo clenched his fists, fighting his impulse to fly over to the Mankins house and smash it to pieces. He remembered what he overheard Mankins and Deputy McNally say and realized that something was happening tonight and he needed to stop it.

"We will make them pay" Apollo said "Skye and Gloria download everything and I mean everything. We need to publish the proof. Show everyone who the Mankins truly are. Chloe write the article and Pete keep a look out. Protect them"

Everybody nodded understanding their roles.

"What are you going to do?" Gloria questioned.

"I am going to go to the Mankins and find the others. I think they're planning something tonight which is why Montgomery rushed to the Sherriff station with the flash drive. He wants everything sorted as soon as possible" Apollo replied.

"We might have another problem" Skye said staring at the screen.

"What do you mean?" Apollo asked.

"This system allows us to check when it was previously active and it was used earlier today" Skye said.

Chloe and Pete looked at her confused as to how that was a pressing issue.

"That means whoever used this system earlier knows where Carlos and Francisco are, which wouldn't be a pressing issue if it wasn't for the fact that their blips are moving. As if their running" Skye elaborated and Apollo mentally kicked himself.

No wonder Deputy McNally hadn't come bursting down the doors of the school looking for them. He must've already known where Carlos and Francisco were and decided they were more important.

Apollo activated his super hearing and could hear them. Two boys running in the woods, running away from a man. Deputy McNally.

"What are we going to do?" How do we help them?" Pete asked wondering how they could reach them in time.

Gloria's eyes began tearing up as the realization that her boyfriend could die tonight and she fell to the floor beginning to breakdown. Pete walked to Gloria and began comforting her.

Apollo couldn't let them die, he wouldn't let them die. Apollo started moving towards the door.

"Apollo?" Skye said noticing him about to run off.

"I know I promised not to run off into danger but I've to try. I've got to go save them" Apollo said to her remembering his promise the night of the meteor shower.

Skye got up and kissed him deeply.

"Come back to me" Skye told him and Apollo nodded.

Before turning and running off from the Torch. He could hear his friends pray that he would save the two teens.

"How will he reach them in time?" Gloria questioned through her tears.

"Gloria I can be very cynical at times but there is one thing I trust it's Apollo. I trust him to save people because that's what he's always done going back to when we were kids. Apollo's my hero and trust me by the end of the night he'll be their hero too" Chloe told her calming her down and easing her mind if only for a moment.

Apollo was touched that Chloe believed in him and he couldn't afford to let her, Gloria, Skye or Pete down. The second he was out of sight from his friends he blurred running towards Carlos and Francisco at superhuman speed.

Apollo keyed into them using his super senses to track them.

---

Francisco and Carlos crouched inside the rotting wooden frame of an abandoned barn. The cold wind howled through the cracks, rattling the loose panels.

Carlos exhaled shakily. "We can't stay here."

Francisco winced, still clutching his bruised ribs. "Just a little longer."

Carlos shook his head. "Man, we're done. McNally's got guys everywhere—"

The sound of crunching gravel.

Both boys froze.

A black truck rumbled up the dirt road, its headlights slicing through the darkness.

Carlos paled. "Oh, no."

Francisco grabbed his arm. "Stay quiet."

The truck rolled to a stop.

The driver's side door opened.

Deputy Sheriff Jed McNally stepped out.

His boots crunched against the dirt as he adjusted his belt. His sawed-off shotgun gleamed under the moonlight.

"I know you're in there, boys," McNally called out, his voice casual—too casual. "Ain't no use runnin' anymore."

Francisco's heart pounded.

McNally sighed, feigning disappointment. "Y'know, I tried to do this clean." He took another step forward. "But some people just don't know when to quit."

Carlos clenched his fists. "We have to move."

But the moment he shifted, McNally cocked his shotgun.

BOOM.

A blast tore through the barn wall, wood splinters raining down.

Carlos yelped, ducking.

McNally smirked. "There's nowhere left to hide."

Francisco helped Carlos to his feet. "Run."

The two bolted out the back entrance.

McNally chuckled. "Predictable."

He raised his radio.

"Block off the roads," he ordered. "They're on foot."

He walked to his truck, placing his shotgun back in the front seat. Before pulling out his magnum.

Francisco and Carlos ran harder.

They were running as fast as they could but he could tell they were tired and weak. The two teens tripped up and fell to the ground allowing the Deputy to catch up with them.

Apollo could hear the Deputy cock his 44 magnum and point it at Carlos and Francisco. Their hearts began racing even more out of pure fear and the Deputy cruelly began taunting them.

"You boys thought you could escape? Nobody escapes us. You want to know why? Because we pick the undesirables. The people society wouldn't miss and you boys? A pair of brown migrants from a country that's nothing more than a shithole. You truly wouldn't be missed. Society doesn't just not care about you. It actually doesn't want you period. People hear you lot are going missing and they breathe a sigh of relief because you truly are unwanted" Deputy McNally said as he walked a little closer to the two teens his gun aimed at their heads.

McNally fired at the both of them just as Apollo reached them. He watched the bullets sail in slow motion towards both Carlos and Francisco and he knew what he had to do.

Apollo had no idea if he was bullet proof he just knew that they weren't and so he rushed in front of them letting the bullets hit his chest.

The bullets bounced off his skin harmlessly and Apollo watched them fall to the ground in slow motion. His chest was unscathed, in fact he barely felt the impact.

Apollo chuckled to himself as he realized he wasn't just incredibly durable. He was bulletproof. He really was basically made of steel.

Not letting himself get too caught up in the moment Apollo rushed to McNally, the world was still moving in slow motion and Apollo open hand smacked his chest causing a ripple of force to flow through McNally in slow motion, throwing him backwards.

Francisco's eyes widened. "What the hell—"

A blur of red and blue landed between them and McNally.

McNally stood up slowly, spitting up blood and gripping his gun. "The hell—?"

Apollo straightened, his eyes locked onto the sheriff.

"That's enough."

McNally sneered as he looked at Apollo.

"I don't know who the hell you think you are—"

Apollo took a step forward.

"I think I'm the guy telling you to walk away."

McNally scoffed. "That so?"

He raised the gun.

Apollo ripped it from his hands faster than McNally could react. The sheriff barely had time to register what happened before Apollo crushed the weapon like it was tin foil and threw it away.

McNally's face twisted in rage. "You little—"

He swung at Apollo—

Bad move.

Apollo caught his wrist mid-swing.

McNally's eyes widened.

Apollo didn't squeeze, didn't break anything no matter how much he wanted to—but the message was clear.

The sheriff couldn't move.

Couldn't escape his grip.

"You're done" Apollo said his voice powerful and filled with anger.

McNally snarled. "You don't know what you're messing with, boy."

Apollo through him over his shoulder sending him sailing into a nearby tree. McNally hit the tree hard, the air leaving his lungs in a wheeze.

Carlos stared, stunned. "Holy—"

Francisco elbowed him. "Shut up."

Apollo loomed over McNally. "The workers you've been covering up? The trafficking? It's over."

McNally coughed, glaring up at him. "You… you don't know a damn thing."

Apollo leaned down.

"Then tell me."

McNally's jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

Apollo exhaled through his nose hoping to find out more about the whole operation, but he saved Carlos and Francisco and that was enough for now.

He looked down at the sneering Deputy and then knocked him out cold.

McNally went limp.

Francisco and Carlos just stared.

Apollo turned to them. "You guys okay?"

Carlos nodded slowly. "Yeah, we… we're good."

Francisco took it. "Who are you?"

Apollo hesitated—then smiled.

"Just a friend. I'm with Gloria. She sent me to find you and I heard gunshots are you okay?" Apollo asked and the two teens nodded slowly still confused.

"Don't worry I know about the Mankins. I am here to help. I promise. I won't let you get hurt" Apollo assured them his kind voice and expression winning them over.

The two teens looked at Apollo and Apollo x-rayed them. Francisco wasn't really hurt but Carlos was. He had a gunshot wound in his shoulder. Apollo realized he must've got it when they ran away initially. They couldn't go to the hospitals because they were afraid the Mankins would be looking for them there so they hid out and treated the wound themselves.

The bullet was still inside him and they had wrapped his arm up. There was something else inside him too, in fact it was inside both of them. It was the trackers the Mankins had put inside them.

Apollo clenched his jaw when he saw them anger filling him up. He quickly calmed himself not allowing his mind to be overcome by anger. His anger wouldn't help them, not right now. His kindness and his family would.

Apollo smiled at the two boys reassuringly.

"I know you've been through a lot and I can't imagine how you've struggles and suffered these past few weeks but it's going to be alright. A friend of mine; Chloe is publishing a story that will reveal the Mankins for what they are. My girlfriend Skye and your girlfriend Gloria have hacked into the Mankins system and are downloading every piece of incriminating evidence on the Mankins and are going to post it online for the world to see" Apollo told them.

"That's my Gloria, she was always a wiz with computers, I could never make heads or tails of it though you know" Francisco said smiling for the first time in a while.

He had a crooked smile, the kind that was playful and mischievous. It reminded Apollo of Sprite.

"She really is a wiz, her and Skye are incredible and she loves you very much and I promise you. You'll see her soon" Apollo told Francisco warmly and he nodded.

"Is this really over? Are we safe?" Carlos asked.

"It will be over soon and you are safe. I promise you" Apollo said to Carlos and he too nodded.

The two teens let out sighs of relief and happy tears filled their eyes, Apollo inwardly smiled happy he was able to save them.

"Right now I need you to walk in that direction" Apollo said pointing to the direction of the Kent farm.

"Walk there until you get to the Kent farm and say you are friends of Apollo. My parents will let you crash with us and notify your families once you tell them your story. Also when you get there call Gloria. Tell her you're safe." Apollo told them.

"Thank you" Francisco said amazed at the sudden generosity being showed to them after weeks staying hidden from the Mankins.

"Don't mention it, all I did was find you. You two are the ones who escaped the Mankins and stayed hidden from them long enough for someone to find you. That's truly amazing, you two are amazing and never let anyone tell you different. I heard what McNally said and he was wrong you're not undesirables and you would be missed and even though it hasn't felt like it recently people care" Apollo told Carlos and Francisco and they both smiled at him.

"There's nobody between here and the farm so you'll be fine on your own. I have to go to the Mankins and let the others go" Apollo informed them.

"You can't go over there man. They'll kill you" Francisco warned Apollo.

"Seriously, they shot me when Francisco and I were escaping" Carlos added.

"I have to, their planning something tonight and I have to put a stop to it. Now don't argue with me just go" Apollo said to them.

The two teens looked at their savior and then hugged him.

"Don't die" Carlos said and Apollo nodded.

The two boys began running in the direction of the Kent farm and Apollo floated up into the sky and then shot towards the old farm the Mankins were holding the others on.

Apollo soared through the air at incredible speeds until he was floating above the farm.

---

Location: The Mankins' Estate, Smallville, Kansas - 2003

The Mankins estate was alive with movement—but not in any way that would draw suspicion.

There were no grand auctions, no loud displays of wealth—only shadows shifting in the moonlight.

In the dimly lit barnyard behind the estate, the deal was already happening.

A line of immigrants in chains was being escorted into the backs of transport trucks. Their faces were hollowed with fear, bodies exhausted from weeks of forced labor.

The buyers weren't bidding in a ballroom.

They were standing beside blacked-out SUVs, their expressions cold and businesslike.

The men overseeing the sale—the enforcers of the Mankins' operation—stood by, watching impassively as money exchanged hands. Heavily armed security lingered in the background, prepared for any potential threats.

They had done this a dozen times before.

They had no reason to suspect that tonight would be any different.

They were wrong.

He saw Doctor Wesley with a man he didn't recognize.

"Quite an impressive shipment tonight. Each round is getting bigger and bigger" the other man said.

"Well we have an abundance of people we can acquire because of my employer and you know him a businessman through and through. He's always eager to supply if the demand is there and the money is too" Doctor Wesley replied.

"It must pay well to work for a man like that" the other man said.

"It pays very handsomely especially with the extra bonuses" Wesley said smirking at the truck. No doubt insinuating the sales of those people gave him some extra money. The other man smiled at Doctor Wesley and they shook hands once again.

"I should go my employer wants them by tomorrow morning and these animals can be quite noisy so best to transport them as quick as possible" the other man told Wesley who nodded.

Apollo's blood boiled. They were talking about innocent people like they were animals. People with families and loved one's who only wanted to make a life for themselves. Apollo clenched his fist having heard enough.

He shot down like a rocket.

Before the first guard could even turn his head—a red-and-blue blur slammed into him.

Apollo knocked him out cold with a single blow and caught his body before it could hit the ground.

The next guard turned—only for his rifle to be yanked away at super-speed.

Before he could shout, Apollo silenced him with a quick and strong tap to the temple.

One by one, they fell.

The buyers had just begun loading the last workers into the truck when they heard a loud crash.

One of the guards was flung into the hood of an SUV, crumpling it like tin foil.

The men whirled around—

Apollo stood in the center of the carnage.

His hands were in his pockets.

His eyes glowed faintly red.

"Bad night for business," he said.

For a single second—nobody moved.

Then someone shouted, "Kill him!"

The first man lunged with a knife.

Apollo sidestepped and caught his wrist, twisting it until the blade dropped. Then he knocked him out with a light tap to the forehead.

Two more rushed him with batons.

Apollo didn't dodge.

He let them swing.

CRACK.

Both weapons shattered on impact.

The men stumbled back, eyes wide with horror.

Apollo smiled. "Want to try again?"

A fourth man pulled out a handgun.

Apollo blurred forward, snatching it away before he could fire.

He crushed the barrel with his bare hands.

The fight was over in less than a minute.

Only two man remained—Doctor Wesley and the buyer.

They were already backing away, sweat beading down their foreheads.

Apollo stepped closer.

"You're going to let these people go," he said.

The man swallowed hard. "And if I don't?"

Apollo's eyes flared red.

The men's faces turned ghost white and they tried to run away.

Moving faster than the two men could hope to react to. He instantly knocked out Doctor Wesley and the other man. Sending them both hurling backwards through the air in opposite directions, Wesley smashed into the barn and the other man flew into the field.

Apollo hit them both harder than he would usually hit a regular person but he was angry. He could tell that he broke some bones but right now he couldn't bring himself to care too much about the traffickers. They were still alive and breathing.

He turned to the truck and focused on the people that really mattered right now, the ones who were in danger. Apollo ripped the padlock from the back of the truck and opened the doors and saw the faces of over a dozen people all of them scared. They all began to cry out asking to be set free and a part of Apollo's heart broke imagining the hardship they all suffered through.

"It's okay. You're safe now. You're free now" Apollo said calmly in Spanish to all of the occupants of the truck as he reached out his hand to help them out.

One of them slowly and hesitantly took it and Apollo smiled at them reassuring them that everything would be okay.

Apollo helped take them all to his farm and when they were safe he flew back to the Mankins mansion prepared to confront the family who thought they could get away with this.

---

Apollo moved through the halls of the mansion, his footsteps light, ears listening for any sign of movement.

Nothing, it was too quiet.

The study door was ajar, a single light spilling into the dim hallway.

Inside, Bryan Mankins sat slumped in a chair, hands trembling around a half-empty glass of whiskey.

His face was pale, his usually slicked-back hair disheveled, and his red-rimmed eyes darted toward Apollo with something between fear and relief.

"It's you," Bryan whispered.

Apollo stepped forward, gaze unwavering. "Where are they?"

Bryan blinked. "What?"

"Your father. Corey. The others. Where are they?"

Bryan swallowed hard. His fingers tightened around the glass until his knuckles turned white.

Apollo's expression darkened.

"I know about the trafficking," he said. "The forced labor. Everything. How much of it are you a part of?"

Bryan flinched.

"I didn't want any of this," he said quickly. "I tried to stop it."

Apollo's jaw tightened.

"Tried how?"

Bryan let out a hollow, bitter laugh.

"You remember the crash?"

Apollo's gaze flickered. The one from a couple of weeks ago. The helicopter he caught with Corey, Bryan and Doctor Wesley inside.

Bryan let out a shaky breath.

"I flew it badly on purpose," he admitted. "I didn't want them to find those people."

Apollo's stomach tightened.

Bryan rubbed a hand over his face, his fingers trembling.

"I thought… maybe if I just messed up the flight enough, if I stalled them long enough, they wouldn't find them."

His voice cracked.

"I didn't think I'd actually crash" Bryan admitted.

He set his glass down and ran his shaky hand through his hair and then chuckled.

"I guess I'm not as good a pilot as I thought" Bryan said.

Apollo stepped closer and looked Bryan in his eyes, his gaze sympathetic.

Bryan exhaled, shaking his head. He stared into the middle distance zoning out as he lets his thoughts consume him.

"When we were going down… and I thought I was gonna die?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "I was happy."

His lips trembled.

"I was happy" Bryan repeated tears forming in his eyes.

Apollo's expression softened.

Bryan's shoulders shook.

"I thought… maybe that would finally stop what my dad was doing. Maybe that'd be the end of it."

He clenched his jaw.

"I was naive" Bryan spat out.

Apollo put his hand on Bryan's shoulder reassuring him.

"You're not naive" Apollo told him.

Bryan blinked. Apollo's voice was firm but steady.

"You knew what they were doing was wrong. And you tried to stop it. You still can."

Bryan exhaled shakily.

Apollo leaned in. "Tell me everything."

Bryan hesitated. Then, finally, he spoke.

"The Japanese group—they're looking for something. An ancient mineral buried deep under the estate. They say it has… properties."

Apollo's eyes narrowed. "What kind of properties?"

Bryan shook his head. "I don't know. But it's important enough that my dad made a deal with them."

He swallowed.

"They offered him immortality. Said they could make Corey… more than human."

Apollo felt a chill creep down his spine.

"When?"

Bryan's throat bobbed.

"Tonight."

"Thank you Bryan. I want you to know I'm going to put a stop to this. No matter what. So don't throw your life away, because it's far more precious than you think. Be brave and live Bryan" Apollo warmly told Bryan giving him a small smile.

Bryan smiled back and then Apollo turned away.

Apollo burst out of the mansion, his body blurring as he raced toward the excavation site.

The wind howled in his ears.

He was going to stop the Mankins, he was going to stop the organisation they partnered with and he was going to save all the people they had dared to hurt just because they thought they could get away with it.

This ended tonight.

---

The ritual site was a deep excavation hidden within the Mankins' private land—an area gutted by industrial digging equipment, its once-natural beauty reduced to a desolate pit. Rusted scaffolding, half-assembled steel frameworks, and a labyrinth of digging machinery loomed over the site like the remains of some long-forgotten civilization.

A group of immigrants—men and women—stood at the bottom of the pit, forced to work the excavation. Their faces were streaked with dirt and sweat, their hands calloused from days, maybe weeks, of brutal labor. Some operated strange mechanical drills, designed to cut deep into the rock, their edges glowing faintly from contact with something unnatural beneath the surface. Others were forced to shovel the loosened debris into carts, under the watchful gaze of silent, masked figures.

At the heart of the pit stood a massive stone altar, its surface carved with ancient symbols. A stone basin rested atop it, filled with a thick, dark liquid. Its sickly, metallic scent lingered in the air, a smell that seemed almost… alive.

Standing before the altar were Montgomery Mankins and his son, Corey.

Montgomery wore a dark suit, but unlike his usual appearance—pristine and commanding—he seemed uneasy. His sharp gaze darted between the altar, the workers, and the figures in black standing around them.

Corey, dressed in ceremonial black robes, was a mirror of hesitation. His usual arrogance was nowhere to be seen. His fingers clenched into fists at his sides as he whispered to his father.

"This… this is insane," Corey muttered. He gestured toward the basin, the shrouded figures surrounding them. "I thought you said they were just going to enhance me. Give me strength. But this?"

Montgomery kept his voice low, firm. "This is what we worked for." He turned his head slightly, locking eyes with his son.

"Do you understand what's at stake?"

Corey swallowed.

Montgomery's grip on his son's shoulder tightened. "Immortality. Power beyond human limits."

Corey hesitated, staring at the thick, inky substance in the basin. Something about it felt wrong.

Then, a voice cut through the silence.

"Do I sense doubt in you" a voice spoke.

The voice was smooth, controlled. But beneath its calmness, there was a weight. A presence that made the workers tense.

One of the masked figures stepped forward.

He was different from the others. Taller. Slender. Dressed in a black suit with intricate silver embroidery. His long, dark hair framed a pale, angular face. Despite the stillness of his posture, he radiated deadly precision.

A katana hung at his side, its hilt wrapped in black silk.

His name was Tomi Shishido. But Montgomery knew him as The Gorgon.

"No, Gorgon. No doubt" Montgomery spoke quickly.

The Gorgon walked forward his eyes covered by his dark sunglasses and smiled.

He looked at the few members of Montgomery's security detail around the site and frowned.

"You have no need for security anymore" Gorgon spoke simply.

Montgomery turned toward him, his brows furrowing. "What do you mean?"

The Gorgon slowly removed his sunglasses.

Beneath them, his piercing pink-red eyes gleamed like burning coals.

Montgomery barely had time to process what he was seeing before—

The Gorgon's eyes turned white.

A ripple of unnatural energy pulsed outward.

One by one, the armed guards standing around the perimeter of the site froze—then began to change.

Their skin hardened. Gray veins crawled across their faces. Their expressions—some of shock, some of fear—were locked in place as their bodies solidified.

Stone.

In mere seconds, every single one of them had been turned into lifeless statues.

The workers gasped. Some screamed. Others fell to their knees, terrified.

Corey staggered back. "What the hell—?!"

Montgomery's breath caught in his throat. For the first time, real fear crossed his face.

The Gorgon exhaled slowly, slipping his sunglasses into his suit pocket.

"They were no longer necessary."

Corey's heart was pounding. He looked at his father.

"You knew about this? This is insane. This isn't what we agreed to" he said his voice dripping with fear

Montgomery's jaw tensed. "It's too late to turn back."

Corey took a step back.

"I—"

"The Black Sky," the Gorgon continued, his voice eerily calm. "That is what you agreed to be. And that is what you will become. A being beyond human. The weapon that will reshape the world."

Corey felt his stomach twist.

Montgomery hesitated. "You said this would make him stronger, but—"

The Gorgon's eyes snapped to him. "It is too late for hesitation."

Montgomery tensed.

Two ninjas moved in unison, grabbing Montgomery by the arms. Another pair grabbed Corey.

"Hey—no, wait!" Corey struggled, but the figures blindfolded him and forced him toward the altar.

The Gorgon turned to the basin. He took a single black meteor rock from a nearby pedestal, dropped it into the liquid, and watched as the substance reacted instantly—boiling, shifting colors between crimson and pitch-black.

Then, he lifted a small ceremonial dagger.

"Let the ritual begin."

Then—

A blur of motion.

Something hit the ground like a thunderclap.

The earth shook.

A massive shockwave of dust and debris blasted outward, sending workers and ninjas staggering back. Montgomery Mankins flew into a steel beam and quickly crumpled to the floor knocked out.

The Gorgon turned sharply.

When the dust cleared, a lone figure stood in the center of the crater.

Apollo.

He was only wearing his standard red jacket, blue shirt, jeans and boots. But even in that, he was imposing. His piercing blue eyes burned with fury.

His gaze swept over the frozen stone bodies. The terrified workers. The altar. The basin.

Then he looked at the Gorgon.

Apollo's fists clenched. His voice, when he spoke, was low. Firm.

"This ends now."

---

The air crackled with tension. The only sounds were the distant rumble of machinery and the uneven breathing of the workers, their eyes darting between Apollo and the figures clad in black.

The Gorgon tilted his head slightly, his red eyes filled with intrigue. "Interesting."

Then, with a simple motion, he gestured to his warriors.

They moved as one.

Like shadows detaching from the darkness, the first wave of ninjas lunged at Apollo. Fast. Efficient. Deadly.

Their black garb barely made a sound as they moved, their forms fluid and practiced. Gleaming curved blades flashed in the dim light, their edges sharp enough to cut steel.

Apollo exhaled sharply.

And then, he moved.

A ninja swung a katana at his head. Apollo tilted slightly, letting the blade pass within an inch of his face. His hand shot forward, grabbing the attacker's wrist and twisting—a sickening crack echoed as the ninja dropped his sword.

Another came from behind, twin daggers flashing. Apollo ducked low, sweeping his leg in a blur—the ninja was airborne before he even realized what happened.

A third tried to impale him from the side. Apollo caught the blade mid-thrust—his grip so strong that the metal buckled inward. He wrenched it from the assassin's hands and snapped it like a twig.

Then, without even turning his head—he backhanded the ninja with enough force to send him skidding across the dirt.

Two more charged from opposite sides. One wielded a naginata, the other a kusarigama— a sickle attached to a long chain. They attacked in perfect synchronization, one striking high, the other sweeping low.

Apollo sidestepped the naginata, caught the chain mid-air, and yanked.

The ninja holding the kusarigama was ripped off his feet, flung through the air like a ragdoll. He collided with a nearby scaffolding, the impact bending steel beams.

The last ninja hesitated.

Apollo stared at him. "You sure you wanna do this?"

The ninja hesitated a second too long.

With one step, Apollo closed the distance, drove his fist into the man's chest not hard enough to kill, but enough to send him flying.

The remaining ninjas shifted uneasily.

They were skilled. Trained in every art of combat, masters of deception, stealth, and precision.

But none of it mattered.

Apollo was stronger. Faster.

He wasn't just a warrior. He was something else.

And they had no answer for him.

Their weapons shattered against his skin, their arms and legs broke the few times they managed to strike him.

One by one, they fell. Some tried to flee—Apollo made sure they didn't get far. He moved like a hurricane, tearing through their ranks with frightening ease.

Within seconds, the once formidable array of ninjas lay scattered across the site some groaning in pain, others unconscious.

A heavy silence fell over the battlefield.

Apollo turned, his eyes locking onto The Gorgon.

For the first time, The Gorgon smiled.

Then, he drew his sword.

The black steel katana gleamed in the dim light. The blade had no doubt tasted the blood of countless warriors.

Apollo rolled his shoulders. "Alright." He exhaled, eyes narrowing.

"Your turn."

The wind howled through the dig site. Dust and debris swirled in the air as Apollo and The Gorgon stood across from each other, two forces of nature poised for battle.

Apollo clenched his fists. His hearts pounded—not from fear, but from something else.

Excitement.

The Gorgon was different from the others. He wasn't just another highly trained assassin. He radiated something unnatural, something that made Apollo's instincts scream at him to be careful.

And a part of Apollo was revelling in the chance to let loose and dish out some real punishment. He had held back at every step because he didn't want to kill anyone. As trained as the ninjas were they were still ordinary men.

The elite warriors had barely scratched him, but The Gorgon…

He felt dangerous.

Apollo could release his pent up anger at the unfair treatment of the immigrants on him.

The Gorgon smiled and raised his blade. The black katana gleamed, its edge impossibly sharp.

Apollo took a step forward. "You saw what happened to your guys. I'm guessing you and your ninjas came here looking for some ancient power but you won't find it, trust me. Not as long as I'm here. So do yourself a favour and walk away"

The Gorgon smiled.

"You don't know what I am, do you?" His voice was calm, almost amused.

Apollo's gaze flickered to the pale man's eyes. His instincts screamed at him—there was something wrong with his eyes.

"Last chance," Apollo warned.

The Gorgon smiled before getting in his fighting stance but Apollo didn't wait for him he blurred and smashed into him with incredible force.

The Gorgon flew into the wall and smashed into it hard enough to send cracks through it. He crumpled to the floor as rubble fell over him and Apollo looked at him.

It couldn't have been that easy right?

The Gorgon rose from the rubble, his red eyes glowing eerily in the dim light. Dust clung to his suit, but he barely looked hurt. Instead, he wore a slow, predatory smile.

"A remarkable display," he mused, rolling his shoulders. The sickening crack of his bones resetting echoed through the pit.

"But you are… untested."

Apollo stared at him and then he blinked.

One second, he was standing still. The next—he was gone.

Apollo barely had time to register it before the katana sliced through the air.

CLANG!

Apollo's forearm shot up, blocking the strike at the last second. Sparks erupted from the impact. The force was enough to make the ground beneath them shudder.

He barely had a moment to react before—

The second strike came.

This time, it was faster. Sharper. More precise.

Apollo dodged left—barely avoiding the blade as it whistled past his ribs.

Then, a blinding kick slammed into his chest.

Apollo flew backward, crashing through a pile of steel beams. He skidded across the dirt, stopping just before hitting one of the digging machines.

He groaned, he wasn't in pain but he actually felt that.

The Gorgon slowly walked toward him, rolling his neck.

"You're strong," he admitted. "But strength alone means nothing."

Apollo exhaled sharply.

And then, he rushed forward.

Faster than sound.

To an untrained eye, he would have been *a blur—*but The Gorgon saw him.

Apollo threw a punch—one that would have sent a truck flipping through the air.

The Gorgon dodged.

His body twisted at an unnatural angle, his movements flawless. He stepped around the punch and dragged his sword across Apollo's side.

Sparks flew once more as the blade cut through his clothes and hit his side.

Apollo curled over as he winced and grabbed his side. He inspected his body there was no blood but the slash left an imprint on his skin. A mark that his blade actually had the capacity to affect him.

His skin didn't break, but he felt the burning sensation of the blade cutting into him.

His eyes widened.

That sword… it might actually hurt him.

The Gorgon saw the surprise. And he smirked.

Before Apollo could react, The Gorgon's eyes flashed white.

Apollo's vision blurred. His limbs felt heavy.

A creeping, suffocating feeling spread through his chest, like something was pulling him down.

Then he saw it—his fingers.

The tips of them were turning gray.

Turning to stone.

Apollo's breath hitched. His heartbeats pounded in his ears.

The Gorgon's voice was eerily calm. "Now do you understand?"

Apollo gritted his teeth. He fought against the sensation, clenching his fists.

And then—

He broke free.

His entire body shook, and the stone-like texture crumbled away from his skin.

The Gorgon's expression flickered—for the first time, he looked genuinely surprised.

Apollo took a deep breath. His skin was normal again.

He met The Gorgon's glowing white eyes.

"Yeah," he muttered. "I get it now."

"Remarkable" The Gorgon said.

Apollo smiled.

"Trust me, Medusa. You haven't seen remarkable yet" Apollo told him.

Then, he attacked.

This time, he wasn't holding back.

Apollo lunged, faster than before, a blue-and-red blur as he closed the distance between himself and The Gorgon. This time, there was no hesitation in his attack.

His fist collided with the air where The Gorgon had just been—but the assassin was gone.

Apollo felt the shift in the wind. He pivoted just in time to see The Gorgon reappear behind him, sword already mid-swing.

Apollo caught the blade between his hands.

Sparks exploded from the katana as the two struggled against each other. The Gorgon pushed forward, his unnatural strength straining to keep them locked in place and inch the blade towards Apollo's face.

Apollo pushed back easily overpowering him and as he did so Apollo felt it.

There was something… wrong about the blade. The way it vibrated in his hands. It wasn't just a sword—it was something more.

The Gorgon sneered. "

"You're incredible," he admitted. "But you're still just a boy."

Apollo's grip tightened.

CRACK!

With one motion, he snapped the katana in half.

The Gorgon's eyes widened in pure disbelief. No one had ever done that before.

Apollo didn't give him time to recover.

He slammed his forehead into The Gorgon's face.

The assassin staggered back.

"Impressive," he admitted. "You move like lightning and strike like thunder. But I have killed gods, boy."

Apollo met the Gorgon's gaze. Remembering all the training sessions he had had with Ikaris and Makkari. Remembering just how powerful his family was, confidence filled him and he couldn't help himself as a cocky smile came to his lips.

"Then you've been fighting weak gods"

The cavern pulsed with tension, the flickering torchlight casting jagged shadows along the rough stone walls. Apollo stood firm, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythm, while The Gorgon adjusted his stance, the remains of his shattered katana gleaming faintly in his grip.

"You're strong," The Gorgon admitted, tilting his head. "But you rely too much on brute force. Power alone isn't enough to kill me."

Apollo rolled his shoulders, his cocky smile unbroken and his confidence unshaken.

"Good thing I'm not here to kill you." He raised his fists. "I'm here to stop you."

The Gorgon's expression darkened.

Then, he moved.

Apollo barely saw it—a blur of motion faster than the eye could track. The Gorgon vanished into the shifting shadows, his presence slipping through the cavern like a phantom.

But Apollo wasn't fooled.

The moment The Gorgon struck, Apollo pivoted, ducking as the assassin's broken blade sliced through the air where his throat had been. Before The Gorgon could recover, Apollo struck back.

BOOM!

A single punch landed against The Gorgon's chest, launching him backward like a cannonball. He crashed through two stone pillars, shattering them into dust, before rolling to a stop.

The assassin coughed but didn't stay down.

"You hit hard." He wiped his mouth, his healing factor already sealing the damage. "But I'm faster."

The Gorgon blurred forward once more before Apollo could even blink.

The Gorgon was nearly above him, flipping downward with an aerial slash that would have split a tank in two.

He truly was fast but Apollo had calibrated to his movements and speed now and knew as fast Gorgon was, Apollo was faster.

Apollo smirked and met him mid-air.

He flew upwards, soaring straight up and punching The Gorgon in the chest. The Gorgon crashed into the roof of the tavern his blade crashed into the ground below, splitting the stone beneath their feet right before he fell down right beside it.

Apollo hovered above the battlefield, his clothes rippling in the cavern's unnatural wind. He didn't waste a second.

His eyes blazed.

A beam of searing heat vision shot down like a solar flare, slicing toward The Gorgon with enough force to cut through steel.

The assassin flashed sideways, narrowly avoiding the blast, the heat scorching his arm as he grabbed his blade. He kick flipped back onto his feet and lunged back at Apollo, kicking off a wall and throwing his broken blade like a dagger.

Apollo tilted his head—the blade missed him by inches.

But The Gorgon had anticipated that.

He ran behind Apollo at incredible speed.

With inhuman strength, he grabbed Apollo's red jacket and yanked him downward, slamming him into the cavern floor hard enough to crack the earth.

The cavern shook.

Dust and rubble rained down as Apollo groaned from the impact. But as The Gorgon moved in to finish him—

Apollo's lips parted.

And he screamed.

A sonic shockwave erupted from his throat, a powerful blast of sound and force that struck The Gorgon head-on.

The entire cavern rumbled under the power of Apollo's voice. The Gorgon was thrown back like a ragdoll, his body slamming into a wall so hard that it cratered. The impact left deep fissures in the rock, sending large chunks of stone cascading down.

The Gorgon snarled as he stood up, his supernatural healing already at work. He wasn't just strong—he was relentless.

But Apollo wasn't finished.

Before The Gorgon could blink, Apollo was in front of him again.

This time, he exhaled.

A blast of arctic breath hit The Gorgon like a winter storm. Ice coated the assassin's arms, creeping along his skin and freezing him in place.

The Gorgon's eyes widened. He struggled, but his limbs were stiff—frozen solid.

Apollo cracked his knuckles.

"You heal fast, right?"

Then, with one devastating punch, he shattered the ice and sent The Gorgon flying across the cavern.

The Gorgon crashed into the remnants of a failed altar, buried beneath the debris.

Silence.

Apollo watched the rubble, waiting. His super-hearing picked up the faintest of movements beneath the wreckage. He wasn't down yet.

Then, from the depths of the dust and broken stone, came laughter.

Low. Amused.

The Gorgon rose.

His body was bruised and bloodied, his long hair tangled with dirt and debris. But he was smiling.

"You really are what I need," he murmured.

Apollo frowned. "What?"

The Gorgon chuckled, his pale face shadowed by the flickering torchlight. He removed his sunglasses from his pocket and put them back on, sliding them back onto his nose.

"You were right. I was looking for power. I came here looking to create The Black Sky."

He took a step back, retreating into the darkness.

"But now I see…" His red eyes gleamed behind the lenses. "I wasn't here for that at all. Destiny was leading me to you all along."

Apollo tensed, ready for another attack—

But The Gorgon said nothing. Instead, he vanished into the shadows, his laughter echoing through the chamber.

His last words echoed in the cavern like a ghost.

"One day, I will return for you."

And then he was gone.

Apollo remained tense, scanning for any sign of him. But he was truly gone.

The fight was over.

Apollo turned back to the ritual site—and saw the worst. The ninjas held a blindfolded Corey in place. As the leader of the ritual took a bowl and filled it with meteor infused elixir bringing it close to Corey as he pleaded.

Montgomery Mankins lay unconscious a few feet away, still knocked out from the initial chaos.

The elixir pulsed, as if alive.

The ritual leader—his face covered in red markings—raised his hand, about to force Corey to drink. The teenager thrashed, trying to resist—

Apollo's stomach turned. He had to move.

He took off like a missile, the ground shattering beneath his feet as he launched himself at the ritual site.

And then, Apollo arrived.

He crashed into the ninjas, sending them flying with effortless force.

The ritual leader turned, eyes widening—

Apollo crushed his wrist in his grip.

The man howled in agony as Apollo ripped him away from Corey, and then threw him sending him crashing into the wall.

Apollo didn't hesitate. He threw the bowl into the air—

And obliterated it with a single blast of heat vision.

The molten contents sizzled as they scattered into the air, the glow dying before it could be used. The ritual was over.

Corey coughed, gasping for breath as Apollo removed his blindfold.

Apollo turned to him, his expression urgent. "Are you okay?"

Corey nodded frantically. He looked completely shaken. Corey exhaled in relief, his entire body shaking

And then—

"NO!"

Montgomery Mankins had woken up.

His eyes darted wildly, taking in the destruction, the ruined ritual.

Montgomery lunged for the elixir. His fingers grasped the basin, his eyes wild with desperation.

"They promised us power!" he screamed. "They promised us eternity!"

Apollo didn't hesitate. He threw Montgomery away and then he shattered the basin with a single punch. The molten mixture hissed and evaporated the moment it touched the ground, burning away into nothing.

Montgomery collapsed beside it, his face twisted in despair. "No… no… no…"

He staggered to his feet. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!" he roared.

Apollo turned to him, his expression ice cold.

"I stopped you," he said simply.

Montgomery seethed. "You've ruined everything! We could have been gods!"

Apollo took a step forward.

"No," he said, voice sharp as steel. "You could never be a god, even if you transformed all you ever would've been is all you've been your whole life. A monster!"

Montgomery's lip curled. "You don't understand—"

"I understand everything." Apollo's eyes burned—not with heat vision, but with fury.

"I know about the trafficking. The workers you forced into this nightmare. The experiments. The deals you made to turn your own son into some kind of weapon."

Montgomery paled.

Apollo took another step forward. "And I also know that, right now, every single thing you've done is being exposed to the world."

Montgomery froze.

Apollo continued. "Your secrets? Gone. Your power? Stripped." His voice lowered. "You're done, Montgomery. You and your entire empire."

Montgomery stumbled back.

It was over.

And he knew it.

Apollo turned back to Corey.

"You're free," he told him. "You don't owe your father anything. Hopefully one day you can do something better with your life."

Corey swallowed thickly and nodded, looking away.

He and his father then rushed out of the ritual site. Apollo knew they would probably try to escape but it was too late for that. No doubt Chloe, Skye, Pete and Gloria had already revealed everything.

Apollo then turned to the remaining workers—the immigrants who had been forced to dig, some of them still in chains.

His jaw tightened.

He ripped off their chains.

"Nobody will ever put you in chains again. Not as long as I'm still breathing" Apollo said to them in Spanish.

He then moved toward the digging machinery—the strange drills used to carve deep into the rock for whatever Montgomery and The Gorgon had been after.

He clenched his fist and then struck the machine.

One punch.

That's all it took for the first machine exploded into scrap metal.

Apollo didn't stop. He moved through the entire site, tearing every last piece of equipment apart, ensuring nothing remained.

Apollo took out all the anger he felt towards the injustice he and his friends uncovered on the machines. When he was done the very chamber itself was nothing but a wreckage.

Finally, he left walking out to find the turned the workers. Still scared and staring at him, no doubt wondering what the way forward was.

"You're safe now," he promised them. "Let's get you out of here."

They nodded in relief.

As Apollo led them away, something stirred in him. He looked at all the men and women he had saved and realised if it wasn't for him they wouldn't be free, they may not even be alive.

Facing off against all the darkness that had been hiding in his home showed him something. It showed him that he needed to do more.

He needed to embrace his abilities and use them to help more because if he hadn't done that then nobody would have been saved.

Apollo looked at the people and he made a vow to himself on behalf of them, on behalf of everyone who couldn't fight for themselves or found themselves in danger or being abused by a power they couldn't overcome.

He would fight for them, he would protect them from danger and he would overcome any power that threatened the lives, happiness and futures of anyone in Smallville.

He would save, anyone and everyone he could.

Apollo felt purpose fill him and then glanced once last time into the darkness—where The Gorgon had disappeared.

His words still echoed in his mind.

"One day, I will return for you."

Apollo clenched his fists.

"Let him try."

---

Chloe and Pete published the article online while Skye and Gloria leaked everything about the Mankins and by the time the next morning rolled around everyone in Smallville was aware of what the Mankins had been doing and about how the Deputy and other members of the sheriff's department helped them keep everything under wraps.

Chloe truly was right, journalism was the great equalizer. It could be a way for Apollo to help people even without his powers. Exposing the truth could bring the most powerful men down just as much as Apollo's fists could and it could inspire change in a way Apollo couldn't hope to yet.

Gloria and Francisco reunited and Ajak healed Carlos's injury.

The people who Apollo rescued went back to their families and the Mankins and everyone involved who was able to be caught were set to be put to trial for human trafficking and abuse.

And as a wonderful cherry on top the stop and search law didn't get passed. Apollo's faith in the people of Smallville proved to be warranted. Smallville really had shown its true colours and even though there was darkness lurking, Apollo felt a renewed sense of hope seeing that he could keep his trust in people to do the right thing and choose empathy and kindness.

Apollo and his friends celebrated the following night throwing themselves a miniature party at the Torch. They all played games, drank (soda not alcohol) and danced happy to have helped so many and eager to move on from what was undoubtedly the darkest thing any of them had ever encountered. Gloria and Francisco even joined in overjoyed and thankful to be with one another once again.

That night the Torch was filled with the sounds of teens having fun, music blared and they all cheered and laughed with one another.

That night the group of teens that took down the Mankins partied their hearts out.

---

Elsewhere in Smallville

A Hammer Industries employee was just getting home. He unlocked the front of his house and went to his kitchen to get something to eat. He began rummaging through his fridge but stopped when he heard something. The man, John Neville, grabbed a knife from the kitchen and then slowly walked through his house. He walked into his leaving room turned on the lights and found a tall and large man sitting in his recliner. The man was dressed in all black, he had black leather pants, black combat boots, a black leather shirt and a hood that shrouded his face.

"Mr. Neville, I'm happy to see you made it home safely" the masked man ominously said.

"Who are you? What are you doing in my house?" John said as he began to feel fearful still holding out his knife to look threatening but all it did was elicit a chuckle from the masked man.

"I'm hurt Mr. Neville, a simple hood and you don't recognise me" the man said to him putting his hand over his heart to feign anguish.

"Look I don't know what kind of sick prank or game you're playing but if you don't leave I'll be forced to call the police" John Neville threatened.

"Why would I leave? We were just about to catch up. As I recall the last time we spoke you were taking a contract that could've greatly helped me and my men" the man said.

He took a slow step forward his voice becoming darker and more menacing.

"We were all ready to help build our own power station. Years of working to get ourselves in a position to be an alternate power solution for Smallville finally bearing fruit but then Hammer Industries came swooping in and took it. Hammer sold everyone on his plan to build safe nuclear power stations. To make Smallville one of the leading energy providers in the state. He called his little plan Project Atom and everyone loved it" the man continued.

John gulped and took a step back sensing the danger he was in.

"I was immediately ruined, as was my business and all my years of work went to waste. The day of the meteor shower I urged you to leave us the one site we had for our station. We already were partially operational and had radium. You and Hammer Industries could build everywhere else but just leave us our station. But Justin Hammer told me that he couldn't do that." the man said.

He took his final steps towards John closing the distance between them and pulling his hood down.

"He told me 'what kind of man would I be if I let a second rate business provide second rate services' and then right after he left you came to me and said 'clear the premises as soon as possible' before you drove off. And so I spent the night of meteor shower handling Radium as my dreams crumbled before me" The masked man said his voice dark and menacing as he got right up and personal with Mr. Neville.

"Oh my god, Albert? Albert Martin" Mr. Neville said finally recognising his voice and his face.

"Ding, ding, ding." Albert Martin said.

"Look Albert it wasn't personal it really was just business. Hammer was the one who wanted your land and Radium all I did was facilitate the agreement like any good lawyer would. If you want I can get you work on one of Hammer's plants. Help get you back on your feet. There's no need to try and threaten me in my home" Mr. Neville said stepping backwards once more.

"I'm not here to threaten you and I am not here to beg for your scraps like some stray dog that's been left out on the street to die. No I am here to show you what I have become, what you and Hammer made me" Albert said as he started to have a strange glowing purple aura.

John Neville began to sweat out of sheer terror as Albert closed the distance between them dwarfing over him and looking down at him.

"This is how you plan on showing me the man you became? Threatening me in my home? What kind of man do you think that makes you?" John Neville asked nervously gripping his knife tighter and steeling himself.

"I am so much more than a regular man John, as you're about to find out. And once I am done showing you I'll show Hammer too" Albert Martin said.

He grabbed John by his collar only for John to stab his abdomen with the knife that was in his hand.

However instead of cutting through his skin, the knife broke as if he had tried to stab concrete.

Albert laughed menacingly as he began to glow with purple nuclear energy. His skin turned black with cracks spreading across it, like he was made of molten rock. A purple fiery glow filled the cracks that were across his skin. And then his head transformed; the skin melting away leaving only his skull. A skull that was now encased in purple nuclear fire. A hot aura of purple flame enveloped his body causing things around him to catch fire. Alberts eye sockets had purple glowing embers in the centre, embers that pulsed like miniature explosions. He lifted John Neville up and laughed once more.

"I told you I was more than a man" Martin said with a sadistic chuckle.

"What are you?" John asked his voice dripping with fear and pain as he felt the skin on his neck begin to melt as Albert strangled him.

"I'm the man who's going to crush Hammer and his plants, ruin Project Atom like it ruined me. Before the meteor shower, I was an ordinary man, I was powerless... Now I possess the ultimate power. Now I am a god. I am the Atomic Skull!" Martin bellowed.

John Neville pissed himself from fear and the Atomic Skull laughed.

"And to your everlasting horror, you shall feel my power!" Martin told him before throwing him across the room.

John smashed into the wall and slowly got back up. He grabbed a nearby lamp and through it at Albert but he simply backhanded it away. John started trying to run away but Al moved far faster than he could. He grabbed him up lifting his entire body into the air before throwing him into the ground.

John spat up blood and writhed in agony his back exploding with pain. Albert then grabbed his collar and began punching him in the face.

The punches were torture; every hit wasn't just hard enough to break bone but also hot enough to melt skin.

John tried to plead but Albert just laughed and laughed as he enjoyed slowly killing the man who helped ruin his life.

Albert heard John begin to cry and beg for his life but that was just music to his ears.

Finally finishing reveling in John's torment Albert grabbed John's head holding it in between both of his hands and then summoned his atomic power causing a miniature nuclear explosion to detonate in his palms.

John's head was instantly vaporised and the burning remains of his body crumpled to the floor. Albert chuckled as the fires caused by his presence finally caught onto the rest of the house and it went up in flame.

"One down, one more to go" Atomic Skull said to himself his mind filled with thoughts of his next target.

His mind filled with thoughts of Justin Hammer.

Author's Note: Dun, dun, dun...

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. It was honestly a real blast to write/rewrite. They were also still a few Smallville homages and references in this chapter as well as references to the wider MCU and I hope they were liked too. I wanted this chapter to be the chapter that truly starts Apollo on his heroic and journalistic journeys and I hope that came across well and I hope you guys all liked it.

Next time Apollo clashes against meteor freaks and people with incredible powers all while interacting a little bit more with the wider MCU as bigger players come to Smallville.

I hope to see you all there.