Thursday, September 8, 2016

Superman 6: Issue 3: A Friend


Chapter 3

Nuclear Man stalked away from the smoldering wreckage of the helicopter and extended his arms.  The fissures in his skin began to glow and seal up.  He could feel something buried deep beneath the ground and slammed his fists into the thick concrete.  The ground trembled, sending massive waves that obliterated Kohr Island, cracked Shelly Island in half, and nearly washed out River Road.  Shockwaves were felt as far north as Pineford, where building trembled and broke apart.  Nuclear Man continued his assault.  Police and emergency personnel were desperately trying to evacuate the surrounding areas.  White light was erupting from the cracks, and the ground quivered of its own accord.  Thunder clouds swirled overhead as lightning struck the ground and rain began to fall.  Nuclear Man began tearing large chunks of concrete out and hurling them madly.  He reached into the crevices, like a junkie savagely searching for his syringe.  Beams of white hot light cut into his arm and he jerked back.  He looked into the sky where they’d come from.  The clouds parted and a golden haired woman with a wide spread, windswept crimson cape descended, the sun creating a white halo of light.  “You need to leave.” She said in a commanding voice.

 

“So the goddess returns…” Nuclear Man said, rubbing the fading burn on his arm.  “I wondered about you.  You haven’t been seen since Superman returned from deep space.” He spread his arms wide “What brings her majesty down from on high?  Certainly not little old me.  You couldn’t even be bothered when Superman was killing himself trying to defeat me the first time.  You couldn’t even help him push New Krypton away.  Where, o where have you been?”


She gently landed, her cape collapsing around her, but looking no less regal.  Electrical energy surged around them.  Nuclear Man glanced at it and kept his head turned slightly.  “There it is again.  Friend or foe?”


He suddenly charged at her, and she sidestepped him.  Even so she could feel energy leaving her body and entering his.  She leapt back and away keeping distance between him.  “Gonna have a hard time fighting me if you don’t touch me.” He growled.  She tore a piece of lead shielding from one of the wrecked reactors and bent it into a curve.  With blinding speed she launched herself at him and slammed the metal around his arms and lifted him into the air.  At seven miles per second air ignited around them as she took him further into the upper atmosphere.  “What are you planning to do?  The sun strengthens me to and this lead will only keep my powers at bay so long.”  She realistically hadn’t thought that far ahead.  He angled his head and opened his mouth, white hot fire exploded into her face with enough force to knock her back.  He spread his arms and shredded the lead shielding and flew down.  He grappled with her and pummeled her face and body, gripping the front of her ivory uniform.  They slammed into the ground, splitting 3 Mile Island in half.  He rose from the smoldering crater and started to walk away, but turned when he heard her groan.  “Still alive?” a wicked grin slit his face.  A golden rope descended around him, gripping him tight and starting to glow.  He turned.  The woman holding it had jet black hair, was tall with an athletes body and was clad in red, blue, and gold with a outfit that left her arms and shoulders bare but still carried the weight and appearance of armor.  “Leave her alone!” the woman shouted.  She jerked hard on the lasso and yanked him into the air, spun him wildly and smashed him back into the ground.  He stood, struggling with the lasso until he could loosen it as she advanced.  A metal disk caught him in the back of the head.  He turned and saw Superman and the boy who saved him standing on a ridge.  “Care to pick on someone your own size?” Superman called.  Nuclear Man examined his arms, the cracks were growing, more light was spilling out.  He took off into the sky and vanished.  Jason moved to go after him, but Clark caught his arm, “No, Kara needs us.”  They ran down the slope and met the woman over Kara’s prone body, her uniform badly torn.


“Let’s get her out of here.” Clark said.  The dark haired woman took his hand “We can take her home.” She said, and moved him aside.  Lifting her up she looked back “You are her cousins.  This is correct?”


“Yes.” Clark said.  “Then come.”  She took her about two hundred yards down the island and a strange aircraft seemed to appear through the smoke.  She took her in side and directed Clark and Jason to sit.


The interior of the aircraft, Clark supposed it could be considered a jet, was basic, with rows of seats along the walls and an area to lay the patient.  The woman didn’t let them sit up front with her.  With the roar of vertical take-off engines the craft lifted into the air and blasted away from Three Mile Island.  “Where are we going?” Clark called.  “Themiscyra.” The woman said.  “I am Diana of the Amazons.”

 

                Lex Luthor stormed down the central corridor of the vessel.  Opening a hatch he arrived in the command bridge.  A tall black man with a dark complexion approached.  He was well built, broad shouldered with a swimmer’s body, outlined by his black suit which appeared to be a technologically advanced diving suit.  “What is it Manta?” Luthor barked as he approached.  “Do NOT take that tone with me on my own ship.” Manta wheeled on him.  “Your plan appears not to be working so well, eh?” Manta motioned towards the large screen that dominated the far wall.  It was new footage of Nuclear Man fleeing Three Mile Island while Superman and company tended to the woman in white.  “What do you see, Luthor? Because I see four meta-humans united against a common foe.”


“Do you?” Luthor said with a smile.  “Because I see a weak Superman, a Supergirl nearly dead, a kid and a woman who don’t know what they are doing.” He turned to Manta “Besides, they were going to come together eventually.  This way we control the circumstances.  Besides, they’re so busy chasing Nuclear Man around the world, they aren’t paying attention to us.”


Back in the cell, Lois paced.  She banged the wall in frustration and found it was hallow.  The thump felt like it reverberated.  She banged again.  Maybe, if she was lucky, she could raise enough noise for Superman to hear her.  She continued to bang and began screaming for help.  It wasn’t long before Lex was back in his lab, arms crossed glaring at Lois.  “You know what, Ms. Lane, you’ve always been more trouble than you’re worth.”  He tapped keys on a control panel.  Vents above her opened up and water began flooding the cell.  Before she was certain it was happening, the freezing water was up to her chest.  “I want you to know, I take immense pleasure in this.  It’s my undying hope that this finally makes you shut up.”  Lois panicked and began desperately screaming for help.


The sound of tearing metal answered her, More water spilled in from the side, but the wall was being torn away from outside.  “Oh dear.” Lex said.  He hit the control panel and the wall slid back into place.  “Manta…we have a problem.”


Lois felt like her head was about to cave in when the water was pushed away from her face.  A bubble had formed around her head and she floated freely in the ocean as the weird sub sped away from her.  She turned and found a man carrying a trident, in armor that looked ancient yet flexible swimming next to her, his free hand outstretched.  His dark blond hair was short, but shaggy, as was his mustache and beard.  She took his hand and he pulled her close.  His body was warm to the touch.  He aimed his trident upward and she gripped tight to his torso.  Like a torpedo they were launched upward.  They exploded through the water’s surface, the pressure around her released immediately.  The sky was blue, the air clear, with only a few clouds in the sky.  She took a deep breath and looked down, realizing they were free falling to the deck of a ship 500 feet below.  “Hold tight!” the man shouted as they fell.  He slammed onto the deck of the ship in a crouch, the trident arm extended away  from them, her body tucked into his side in the fetal position.  He stood, but she didn’t uncurl.  “Ms. Lane. You’re safe now.” He said with a slight chuckle.  The opened her eyes and looked around.  Crew from the ship ran towards them.  He spoke to them in Portuguese, but she understood enough to know he was telling them she needed dry clothes and medical attention.  He turned and walked to the edge of the deck.  “WAIT!” she called out.  “Who are you?”

 
He turned with a smile.  “A friend.” He almost tossed the word at her.  “Superman needs your help!” she said shouted.  The strange man stopped and looked back at her, a grave expression across his face.

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