3 comments/ 39374 views/ 9 favorites Superman: God Among Men By: BlackKing2099 Clark Kent stood in front of his parents' farm, and looked at the horizon. He looked like any other young farmer in this part of Kansas, of course he was anything but. Clark Kent, adopted son of Jonathan and Martha Kent was not an ordinary youngster. He was the last survivor of the planet Krypton. Krypton was a distant world once inhabited by human-like entities who had built a mighty, technologically advanced civilization. Jor-El, a Kryptonian military scientist sent his son Kal-El on a small spacecraft so that he might survive the end of Krypton. The planet Krypton had been destroyed by a cataclysm. Kal-El's spaceship landed on the planet Earth where it was found by the Kents. Kal-El, the Last Son of Krypton was raised by ordinary human beings from Earth. These days, Clark Kent was living in the city of Metropolis. He was still a freshman in college. A few months had gone by since his father, Jonathan Kent died of a heart attack, hours after winning a nomination as senator of the state of Kansas, defeating the ruthless billionaire Lex Luthor. Clark had faced many challenges during his young life. He had dealt with men and women with incredible powers hell bent on his own destruction. He had also dealt with ordinary mortals who were no less dangerous than their super-powered counterparts. Clark didn't feel sure of himself anymore ever since his father died. He felt unsure about his place in the world. His adopted father, Jonathan Kent told him to use his powers to help people, to fight for justice and peace. His biological father, Jor-El of Krypton wanted him to conquer the planet Earth and unite it under his rule. Clark was just a young guy who was trying to lead his own life. He didn't want to become a superhero. He only wanted to lead a normal life. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for him. Clark Kent was in Metropolis, hanging out with his friend Chloe Sullivan when he suddenly heard the Call. The Call was that special low emission coming from the Fortress of Solitude erected by the ancient Kryptonian technology in the Artic. Clark sighed. "What is it?" Chloe asked. "Something's bothering you, I can tell." Clark Kent looked at his pal, and his eyes darkened. "I've got to go," he said. "Will you cover for me?" Chloe Sullivan looked at the young man she had been best friends with since the fourth grade. "You got it, Clark." Clark smiled and tapped her on the shoulder, then he sped away. "Be careful," Chloe said. Of course, Clark Kent didn't hear her. Or perhaps he did. He ran away at full speed, faster than a bullet, too fast for the human eye to see. The young woman shook her head. In the entire world, there was nobody else like Clark Kent. A good-two-shoes who was also a stud with super powers. Her best friend. Smiling, she headed back to her journalism class. Clark Kent flew through the streets of Metropolis. He went at full speed, moving too fast for any human being to see. He quickly took to the air, soaring into the heavens at full speed. There was nothing Clark Kent loved more than flying, except maybe being in Lana Lang's arms. Unfortunately, he was beginning to realize that they weren't meant to be. Clark Kent felt a lot of guilt since his father's death. He loved his dad. Maybe he didn't deserve to be happy, that's why he couldn't be with Lana Lang. He had too many responsibilities and not enough time to himself. Also, his life was incredibly dangerous. Every week there was a super-powered man or woman out in the world, causing harm to innocent people. Someone had to stop them and Clark Kent was usually the man for the job. Clark flew over continents at the speed of light and soon found himself in the Artic. He scanned the landscape, and quickly found the Fortress of Solitude. The massive alien super structure stood a full mile high. Naturally, only he could see it. The Kryptonian technology inside displayed a holographic illusion over the gigantic fortress. Anyone looking at it would see a huge pile of ice but Clark had X-ray vision. He could see through the illusion. He landed and walked through the doors. He marched to the center of the city-sized structure, and entered the Chamber of Knowledge. This was the place where the artificial intelligence which maintained the Kryptonian fortress resided. An artificial intelligence modeled after the mind of Jor-El. Clark stood there, and called out to Jor-El. "Why have you summoned me?" "Ah, Kal-El, it is good of you to come," said a voice. Clark Kent turned around and saw...Lionel Luthor! The young man's eyes narrowed. He didn't like Luthor one bit. Still, this wasn't the first time that Jor-El had used Lionel Luthor as his avatar. The sentient Kryptonian machine residing inside the Kawatche Caves downloaded the consciousness of Jor-El inside the mind of Lionel Luthor and also gave the wealthy industrialist the powers of a Kryptonian. When possessed by the mind of Jor-El, the body of Lionel Luthor could display spectacular powers such as super strength, speed, invulnerability and heat vision. "My son, I have dire news, said Lionel/Jor-El. Clark crossed his arms over his chest. "When do you ever have any good news?" He growled. "Thanks to you, my father is dead, and you dare ask me to come here again?" Lionel/Jor-El shook his head. "I am sorry about that, Kal-El. But you knew what was going to happen. The life of someone close to you would be traded for yours." He touched Clark's shoulder and smiled sympathetically. "I am sorry, son. But the world is in need of you." Clark shrugged. "What has the world ever done for me? I've lost my father. My girlfriend has left me. My life is falling apart. Why should I care about what happens to the world?" Lionel/Jor-El grimaced. "There is very little time left, my son. I have a story to tell you." He gestured and suddenly a crystal chair formed behind Clark. "You'd better sit for this." In spite of himself, Clark Kent sat down. He had to obey his father, after all. "A long time ago, long before Krypton was destroyed, I traveled to a distant world," said Lionel/Jor-El. Clark groaned. "I know this story, father. You came to Earth." Lionel/Jor-El looked annoyed. But he continued. "The planet Earth wasn't the first world that I visited," he said. "I went to a planet called Apokolips, a nightmarish place ruled by a titanic dictator who calls himself Darkseid." In spite of himself, Clark Kent was captivated. He had always wanted to know what his biological parents were like, what they did before he was sent away to Earth. He could imagine Jor-El traveling through the galaxy, visiting unknown worlds. It was...a pleasant thought. Lionel/Jor-El went on. "Apokolips is home to a breed of warriors known as the Parademons, and all of them serve Darkseid. Darkseid is the conqueror of planets, the destroyer of worlds, and he has set his sights on Earth." Clark blinked. "What does he want with Earth?" Lionel/Jor-El shrugged. "Thousands of planets have already fallen under the dominion of Darkseid. He has been around for thousands of years. He is pure evil. All he craves is power. His planet's military and scientific powers were far beyond those of Earth. This world doesn't stand a chance." Clark Kent stood up. The thought of an alien army coming to Earth to destroy it didn't sit right with him. He wasn't fond of aliens, though he was one. The first aliens he had ever encountered were Nam-Ek and Aethyr, a Kryptonian man and woman who served General Zod, a Kryptonian tyrant who opposed Jor-El a long time ago. He remembered the stories told to him by Brainiac, also known as Professor Milton Fine. Brainiac, the super-powered sentient humanoid machine was loyal to Zod. He had come to Earth with Nam-Ek and Aethyr to bring Zod back from the inter dimensional prison he inhabited and conquer Earth together. Lionel/Jor-El looked at his son. "I can't help you in this mission, my son." Clark Kent glared at his father. "Why not? If Darkseid and his people are half as powerful as you say, then you know I can't do this alone!" Lionel/Jor-El touched his son's shoulders. "You won't be alone, Kal-El. There are many super humans in this world. You have encountered a few. Find a few among them who are worthy of being the protectors of their world. It's a battle for all humanity, Kal-El, though you may lead it, it's up to them to win it." Clark Kent nodded, slowly taking it all in. He looked up at his father, to see a smile on Lionel/Jor-El's face that was not unlike the smile Jonathan Kent often wore when he saw his son. "I understand, father." Lionel/Jor-El grinned. "Do not hesitate, Kal-El. Do what must be done. Only then will you be strong enough to save this world and those you love from certain peril." Clark Kent smiled, nodded, and turned to leave. Lionel/Jor-El stopped him. "I know a way to rid you of your weakness forever, my son. Once it is done, no Weapon forged in heaven or on earth will be able to cause you harm." "What do you mean?" Clark asked. "You are talking about Kryptonite, aren't you?" Lionel/Jor-El nodded, then produced two glowing amethyst stones, practically out of thin air. "What are those?" Clark asked. "Amethyst stones from our home world," said Lionel. "Once you touch them, their energies will flow into you and nothing will be able to cause you harm. Kryptonite will no longer harm you. Nor will the effects of what ordinary humans call 'magic', though magic itself is an ancient technology older than even we, and not at all the mystical element that Earth people believe it to be." Clark Kent took the amethyst stones from his father, and felt their energies flow into him. He grunted, though not in pain. The sensation that he felt was amazing. He had never felt anything like it. He couldn't compare it to anything he'd ever felt. When he'd been under the influence of red Kryptonite, he felt like a pure hedonist. Black Kryptonite had split his personality. Green Kryptonite drained him of his might. White Kryptonite rendered him extremely paranoid. The amethyst stones made him feel...great. Not the pure rush of red Kryptonite but a more balanced, beneficial rush. He felt great. Strong. Powerful. Ready for anything. "You feel it, don't you?" said Lionel/Jor-El. "Feel the power inside you, my son. Nothing can ever hurt you. You are now ready to make full use of your powers." Turning around, the Kryptonian patriarch pointed to the gigantic fortress in a broad, expansive gesture. "All of these technologies are yours, my son. Our Portals will allow you to teleport to any location in the known universe. Our weapons can stop any technologically advanced army or fleet. You are now ready to defend the Earth. You only need the determination to do it at no matter the cost to those who stand in your way." Lionel/Jor-El looked at his son. "Are you ready, my boy?" Clark Kent nodded. "Yes." Lionel/Jor-El grinned. "Kneel before me." Clark Kent obeyed without hesitation. Lionel smiled. "Go now, my son." Clark Kent nodded respectfully at his father, then he rose into the air, soaring through the roof of the mighty Fortress of Solitude and heading to the skies above. He was a young man on a mission given to him by his father. He had to save the planet Earth from Darkseid, an evil alien overlord who wanted to conquer all the civilized worlds in the galaxy. Only he could stand against the fury of Darkseid's mighty alien armies. He was the protector of the planet Earth and he had a job to do. Lionel/Jor-El looked upward, where Clark Kent had gone. He smiled. If only the young man knew what he was in for... Clark Kent was such a simpleton. He thought he was communicating with his father, Jor-El. If only he knew that since the beginning, he had been talking to General Zod himself. For it was Zod who, before he could be locked away into the inter dimensional void known as the Phantom Zone by the Supreme Council of Krypton, sent a powerful machine containing his memories, intelligence and agenda to the distant planet Earth. Jor-El and Lara had sent their son Kal-El to Earth so that he might live. General Zod knew of this. So did the machine which contained his intellect. The sentient machine containing Zod's intellect had come to Earth and embedded itself inside the Kawatche Caves. It had lain there for centuries, waiting for the arrival of the ship carrying Kal-El. Drawn to the young Kryptonian's energy signature, the sentient machine had come up with an elaborate scheme to use the son of its master's enemy to bring its master back from the void. All those years, the Zod-machine pretended to be Jor-El, its hated enemy, in order to trap Kal-El. So many times, the Zod-machine had been close to unlocking the void and freeing its master. It had used red Kryptonite to turn mild-mannered high school student Clark Kent into Kal-El, arrogant, cocky and aggressive rebel and somewhat reckless hedonist. The Zod-machine had planned to manipulate Kal-El into freeing him. It had even used the young man to open the gateway of the location where a Kryptonian spaceship had been frozen in space for many centuries. The spaceship which contained two living Kryptonians, a male and a female, in cryogenic suspension. Those two Kryptonians were the savage Nam-Ek and his lover, the deadly and seductive Aethyr. Also traveling with them was Brainiac, a highly intelligent Kryptonian machine. Now, finally, the Zod-machine could free its creator. It took the DNA it had collected from its encounters with Kal-El, and used it on the scanner of the machine built by Jor-El. Only someone with DNA like Jor-El's could unlock the mechanism. The ancient Kryptonian machine was actually the Portal to the chaotic dimension known as the Phantom Zone. The place where General Zod had been locked away for many centuries. "At last!" said Lionel/Jor-El/Zod-machine as the mechanism was activated. The awesome powers of the machine built by Jor-El, the greatest scientific and military mind ever seen on the planet Krypton were unleashed. The Zod-machine actually stepped back, as a large mechanical entity which served the Fortress of Solitude reached into the void. The Zod-machine knew that the mechanical entity would search for mind-boggling distances through the void, looking for the energy signature of a Kryptonian body trapped in an energy Prison. For hours, the Zod-machine waited. It was almost impatient. Finally, its master would return. They would conquer the world of the humans in glorious battle, as they almost did Krypton, eons ago. Hours passed, and the Zod-machine waited. It waited a long time. Twenty-four hours, in fact. Finally, the mechanical entity returned from the void. Inside its clutches was the precious body of its master. The machine built by Jor-El dropped the body of General Zod unceremoniously on the floor of the Chamber of Gateways, deep inside the Fortress of Solitude. If a machine could feel joy, the Zod-machine would have been ecstatic. Finally, its master was home. Elsewhere... Clark Kent returned to the city of Metropolis. The young man took a spin around the city, just to clear his head after all that he had been told by his father. The planet Earth was in danger, an alien fleet was coming to conquer it. First, though, he had to get back to his gal pal, Chloe Sullivan. He spotted her talking to somebody at school. She turned around and saw him. Smiling, she came to him. "Hey, Clark!" said Chloe. "Where have you been?" She was whispering. Clark grinned. The girl continued to amaze him every day. "We've got to talk," he said. The two of them went to a secluded spot on campus, the student lounge. There, he told her...everything. When he was done, Chloe Sullivan couldn't believe her ears. Getting used to the fact that her best friend (and crush) Clark Kent was an alien had been tough, but now, she was learning that there were a lot of other alien forces out there in the universe and some of them were coming to the planet Earth, to conquer. "We've got to do something, if what he told you is true," Chloe said. "If aliens are coming, we should..." Clark looked at her, gentle amusement on his handsome face. He shook his head gently, and raised his eyebrows. Chloe tapped herself on the head. "Yeah, go around telling people aliens are coming, they'd lock me up and label me a loony." She laughed. "So, he wants you to start a league of super people to fight the alien threat, uh? Where are you going to find this League?" Clark blinked. When Chloe mentioned the word "league", he remembered something. He smiled. "I just might know a few people who would be willing to join me." New York City.... Bart Allen stood on the corner of Madison Square, and gazed at the city of New York. 'Nice,' he thought. Ever since he first came to the city, three days ago, the young man had been having a blast. Of course, Bart Allen always had fun. After all, he was the Fastest Man in the Universe. He ran through the card, and things seemed to be moving in slow motion. Well, slow for him. Everyone else appeared to stand still. They weren't. Bart was just moving really fast. Faster than the speed of light actually. He 'relieved' some of these people of their 'excess baggage'. He stood on a corner, and took a look at his bounty. He had snatched five hundred dollars from Kathleen Norway McDonald, a prominent district attorney and former supermodel who made a bundle every year. Her money came from 'suspicious sources.' Bart, concerned citizen that he was, simply couldn't let taxpayer money go into the wrong hands for the wrong purposes. His next 'case' was Max Gregory, a big and tall Irishman who was an enforcer for a local mob boss. A guy who wore five-hundred-dollar-shoes wouldn't miss the three hundred bucks in his wallet. Or so Bart thought. The young Speedster walked away, smiling to himself. "Thief!" Bart turned around, and stared at the man who had spoken to him. "Excuse me?" Bart stared at the tall, dark man who stood a few feet away from him. When Bart was moving at super speed, nobody could see him. The only guy who had even come close to matching his speed was Clark Kent, a farm boy from Kansas. There was no way that Clark would come to NY. Which meant that someone else with super powers had spotted Bart. Bart sized him up. The guy was a tall, broad-shouldered and muscular African American male. He wore a black and green leather trench coat over black leather pants and dark gray boots. He looked a bit odd, but Bart had seen weirder fashion statements in San Francisco. "What do you want?" he asked the guy. "I demand that you return the money to those people you stole it from," the man said, with authority. Bart only laughed. "Dude, I don't know what you think you saw, but I don't know what you're talking about." With that, Bart Allen took off, running at super speed. He ran to the Hilton Hotel where he was staying. The Hotel room was fully paid for, courtesy of his friendly neighborhood drug dealer with deep pockets. He was very surprised to see the green-and-black-clad man standing in front of him, in his room! "How did you get here so fast? You're another farm boy or something?" Bart yelled. He looked at the man. The dude was taller, bigger and he was as fast as he was, if not faster. He meant business. Bart Allen had always been a fun-loving, joke-telling, hedonist with some mild kleptomaniac tendencies. He wasn't a fighter. Yet he didn't like anybody showing up in his room unannounced, (that is, unless it was a pretty girl with loose morals and freaky sexual tendencies) so he prepared himself for a fight. Just when Bart Allen was ready to put the whammy on him, the dude did something completely unprecedented. A ring on the middle finger of his right hand began to glow with a greenish light. "What the hell is that?" Bart said. Superman: God Among Men "Behold the power of the ring," said the man. A green energy ball shot out of the ring and came at Bart. The young Speedster dodged it, and he felt the green flame singe his shirt. He gasped. Nothing on planet Earth was that fast. As if reading his mind, the green-ring man smiled. "I'm not exactly from around here," he said. "But I know how to deal with the likes of you." He started shooting blasts of green energy, aiming at Bart. Bart Allen sped away. As fast as he could. Who in hell was this dude? How in hell did he do what he did? Bart ran. Everywhere he went, the man with the green power ring followed him. It didn't matter that Bart could run on water, or move faster than a bullet. The man with the green power ring always followed him. Bart went from city to city, and ran across oceans, through towns and villages, hills and valleys. He ran all over the place, and the green ring man just kept coming. It was... unsettling. Bart Allen was starting to get worried. He suddenly had a bright idea. He would go to the only other super guy he knew who just might be able to beat the dude with the freaky green ring. He would go to Clark. Kent. Atlantic City. Victor Stone ran through the streets. There was nothing he liked doing more than chasing somebody. Anyone looking at him would have seen a tall, well-dressed, good-looking young black male. Of course, he was a lot more than that. Once, Victor Stone was a high school football player with a bright future in the world of sports. Now, he was a security guard on duty. Victor had been in an accident some time ago and he got hurt. He was the only survivor. His parents and his sister died. Scientists from Lex Corp took him and transformed him into a bio-mechanical super soldier. Victor Stone became Cyborg. As Cyborg, he had super strength and speed, and his body was exceptionally resilient, virtually indestructible. The scientists wanted to turn him into a killing machine but one of them helped him escape. They chased him. He was injured. He only escaped thanks to help from a nice young man named Clark Kent. Clark Kent had some super powers of his own. Lana Lang and Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent's lady friends found Katherine, the girl Victor loved and reunited them. Now, Victor Stone was a free man and he was living with the woman he loved. Currently, Katherine was at city college, studying Business Administration. Victor Stone worked as a security guard for a small company and went to school at night, studying Criminal Justice. He always wanted to become a police officer. At the moment, he was chasing a thief. Victor Stone had been working for Ocean View Labs for three months now and he'd never had any trouble. Now, some guy had broken into the labs and taken a dolphin from the complex, setting it loose back into the ocean. Victor didn't like this one bit. Oh, he liked animals, he just didn't believe in breaking the law. So, even though he felt sympathetic to the thief, he still had to take the guy down and bring him in. Ocean View Labs was quite close to the sea, where the thief had let loose the dolphin. The guy had come back to cover his tracks. Bad idea. Victor had come after him, faster than a cheetah. Arthur Curry had gone into Ocean View Labs to free Big Ronald, the bottle-nosed dolphin that the scientists kept in there. The young seaman had heard the animal's cries for help. Ordinary humans couldn't hear anything. Arthur Curry wasn't a regular human being. He was a superhuman. Born with superhuman strength and speed. He was amphibious, equally at ease on dry land as he was in the water. He got it from his mother, she was a member of an ancient species of aquatic humanoids. The fabled "mermaids" of legend. Except they were real. Arthur Curry inherited his mother's love of the water and kinship with animals. That's why he went to save the animal. Now, he was all alone against a security guard who had definitely missed his calling as an Olympic runner. If only Arthur could get to the water. The water was his domain. He was faster than any living thing in the water. No way the security guard would catch him there. The only other guy Arthur had met who was halfway as fast as he was in the water, and that guy was Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. With that in mind, he reached the pier, and dove into the water. Victor Stone could see his prey getting away. The guy had gone into the water. Victor dove in. The bio-mechanical enhancements inside him had given him greater than normal vision, as well as respiratory capacity. He felt okay in the water, if only slightly heavy due to the alloy inside his bio-enhanced body. He could see the guy swimming away, quickly. Victor gave chase. He swam after the culprit as fast as he could. Once in the water, Arthur Curry could move more freely. He felt at ease in his natural element. He sensed a disturbance in the water, and noticed that the guy was coming after him. Unbelievable. Arthur grinned, recalling the last boy scout who had followed him into his watery domain. He figured that if this guy was super fast, he could take a hit from the legendary master of the seas himself. Arthur waved his hand in circular motion, gathering the ambient energy around him into a blast which he threw at his pursuer. Victor had gone into the water, to catch the guy. Suddenly, he saw the man stop, and do something with his hand. A few moments later, Victor felt something strike him. Something had struck him with unbelievable force. Victor felt himself hurled from the water by whatever unimaginable power the guy had unleashed upon him. He was thrown from the water, and hurled onto the deck of a ship. Dazed, the young man shook his head. "Who in hell was that?" He asked himself. Metropolis, Kansas. Clark Kent and Chloe Sullivan sat in Clark's's barn, talking. A few hours had passed since they had returned to Smallville. Clark still wasn't sure what to do about what Jor-El had told him. "Help me track them down," Clark had said. A few hours later, here they were. There were a few people they were looking for. Arthur Curry, the handsome swimmer who was a master of the oceans and had some super powers of his own. Victor Stone, the bio-mechanical wonder. And finally a young man who could run faster than the speed of light, the infamous Bart Allen. "Who is he?" Chloe asked. "A kid I met last year," Clark said. "He ran faster than I could." The young woman raised her eyebrows. "Really?" She was about to press Clark for more questions when suddenly, the wind blew in. A blond-haired kid walked in. He was wearing a red shirt and gray jeans. He wasn't a day over eighteen. He looked scared, and tired. "Hey, I know you!" said Chloe. "You're the kid I met last year at the Talon. You stole Clark's dad's credit card!" Clark Kent looked at the newcomer. "Bart?" He said. Bart Allen looked at Clark, despair on his face. "Clark, you've got to help me," he said. A few moments later, Bart Allen sat at a table in the Kent house. He was drinking some milk given to him by Clark and telling them his story. "This dude has got a glowing power ring and he can hurt me, man. He's actually fast enough to hurt me, and I'm the Fastest Man Alive!" Chloe listened. She looked at Clark. "Sounds like magic to me," she said. Clark nodded. Both he and Chloe were all too familiar with magic. Last year, the spirits of three powerful witches had possessed Chloe, Lana and Lois. The three of them had gone on a rampage. Clark Kent stopped them, but they hurt him along the way. He healed fast but magic could hurt him. According to his biological father's avatar, magic was an ancient technology that was so old that even ancient civilizations had forgotten its secrets. Clark had seen magic firsthand. He feared it, somewhat. If the green and black leather man was a magician, then they were in trouble. "You're safe here, I promise," Clark told Bart. Bart nodded. Since they met, Clark was used to seeing Bart Allen as the arrogant, cocky bad boy with super powers. Bart never showed fear. Ever. Whoever the power ring guy was, he must be scary. Clark headed outside. He needed to clear his head. Too much was happening at once. Just this morning, he'd been summoned back to the Fortress of Solitude and Jor-El had charged him with a mission : to gather other super-powered people and unite them into an army to save the planet Earth from an approaching alien fleet. This was a lot to digest. And now, one of his friends was being pursued by a super-powered menace. Of course, knowing Bart, Clark doubted the young Speedster had been living the life of an upstanding and law-abiding individual. Yeah, right. Elsewhere... John Stewart had been searching all day for the super-fast little thief who called himself Bart Allen. He'd been stalking his prey for several days. Bart was hard to track. It took every bit of his power just to keep up with him. John Stewart had never seen anybody that fast. Ever since John Stewart was given the green power ring by the strange little man, he had been both blessed and cursed with its power. The ring could do just about anything. Its abilities were limited only by the imagination of its wearer. Currently, John Stewart was an apprentice of the Green Lantern group. A secret society of men and women, aliens and super humans who used the power ring to fight for justice and truth out there in the galaxy. There had never been an Earth-born Green Lantern. John Stewart was pretty sure that he was the first homo sapiens and the first Black male to be entrusted with the power. He wanted to become the best Green Lantern who ever lived. He wanted to travel among the stars and fight for justice. Unfortunately, his ring was newly forged and hadn't developed its full powers yet. And he was quite new to the whole superhero thing. John Stewart had met many other super-powered people during his travels. Men and women who often used their powers to commit crimes and make themselves rich and powerful at the detriment of others. Ordinary police officers couldn't deal with them. So John Stewart did. He tracked them down and used his power ring to take them out. The Green Lantern Corp had a special prison where they kept super-powered bad boys ( and bad girls). So far, John Stewart had locked away a couple of people. Now, he was on his first solo assignment. Since the planet Earth had never had any official meeting with any alien civilizations, John Stewart was ordered to keep his powers on the low. No one had to see him do his thing. He had to operate in secret. That was the rule. He couldn't let Bart Allen escape. Either the kid would stop stealing from people or Stewart was going to lock him up in a special prison built specifically to hold super-powered people. It was that simple. All John Stewart, the newest member of the Green Lanterns had to do was find him. * * * Clark Kent went back into the barn. This was the place where he went when he wanted to be alone. He had far too much on his mind right now. Too much had happened this year. Jonathan Kent, his beloved father, died. Lana Lang, the girl he loved, abandoned him. Martha Kent, his mother was becoming too distant. She didn't blame him for his father's death but he could sense that she was somewhat disappointed in him. She didn't need to say it. She wouldn't say it because she was a good person and all that but Clark knew that's the way she felt. With all of his powers, he had been too busy protecting the girl who abandoned him to save his father when his old man needed him the most. Clark Kent felt like a failure. And now Jor-El was charging with a sacred mission : he had to protect the planet Earth from alien dangers and unite a handful of its more powerful people into a ragtag army. The young man stood in the hay, and gazed at the heavens, his X-ray eyes seeing right through the ceiling. "Why me?" He yelled. Chloe Sullivan locked the door as Bart Allen went into the shower. The young Speedster was tired. She told him to make himself at home, which of course he already had. She sensed that he wasn't a shy boy scout like Clark but rather, a cocky bad boy, on the run from something. Chloe looked for Clark, but he wasn't around. She thought about it, and realized that she knew exactly where he would be. The only place he liked to go when something was bothering him. The barn. Clark lay on the hay, looking at the stars. The ceiling shaft was open. The young man sighed. So many responsibilities were thrust upon his shoulders. He groaned and closed his eyes. There were times when he wished his parents had never sent him to the planet Earth. He would have died on Krypton, among his people, a happy baby boy in his parents loving arms. Instead he was alone on Earth, surrounded by people who would fear and hate him if they knew what he was. Yet he was charged with a special mission. He had to save them. Again. Chloe walked into the barn, and headed upstairs, to the loft, where she knew he would be. There he was, Clark Kent, lying on his back, his eyes closed. Chloe's heart skipped a beat. He looked so beautiful when he was asleep. Chloe bit her lip. There was nothing in the world she wouldn't do for that boy. She loved him that much. So much that it scared her sometimes. Unfortunately, his heart belonged to someone else. Lana Lang. "Hey, Chloe," said Clark. His eyes were open now. "Oh, sorry," she said. "I just thought you were asleep." Clark smiled. "I'm awake, I'm just thinking, that's all." Chloe smiled. "Join me," he said. She came and sat next to him. A city girl and a farm boy lying in the hay together. Nice picture. "I'm just baffled by all of it," he said. "What?" Chloe asked. Clark shrugged. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to save the world, Chloe. I couldn't even...I couldn't even save my dad." He had a haunted look in his eyes now. Chloe looked at him. She had never loved him more than she loved him now. Seeing him like this made her ache. "Don't blame yourself, Clark." She paused. "It wasn't your fault." Clark sighed, and closed his eyes. When he opened them, Chloe's eyes were riveted on him. She blushed. "Sorry," she said. Clark shook his head. "We're friends, Chloe. We're past these things." Chloe looked at him. It was amazing how much she loved this boy. When she found out that he was an alien, she didn't care. He was a hero in her eyes. The best person she knew. Who cares if he came from Krypton or Neptune or even the moon? The only thing she didn't like about him was his ability NOT to see what was right in front of him. For years, she loved him in secret and ached every time she saw him moping over Lana Lang or some other girl. She wanted to scream at him that she loved him and would do anything for him but he would never see that. Ever. The two friends lay there. Clark fell asleep, and his head rested on Chloe's shoulder. She looked at him again, certain that were he awake, he'd hear her heart thundering. Chloe Sullivan was a tough tomboy who grew up in the mean streets of the big city. She had faced all sorts of dangers. When she came to Smallville, she faced many meteor-enhanced super freaks hell bent on destroying her. She was scared sometimes. But she never yielded. Yet here she was, lying next to the young man she loved, unable to tell him three little words. Sighing, she closed her eyes, willing her thoughts away from the subject she found most painful. Clark lay next to Chloe, and for a moment, he had forgotten about his worries. He liked spending time with Chloe. She had been his best pal since Pete Ross left Smallville. She was the only person outside of his family around whom he could be himself. Chloe Sullivan had known he was a superhuman for some time, and he didn't know that she knew, yet she went out of her way to protect his secret. She truly was a good friend. He opened his eyes, and gasped. Chloe Sullivan was lying next to him, her eyes closed. Clark blinked, and felt his pulse quicken. She looked so beautiful. He felt himself drawn to her. Even though he knew he shouldn't, he leaned over, and planted a kiss on her lips. Chloe Sullivan opened her eyes, and saw Clark Kent kissing her. Clark was kissing her! Her eyes widened in surprise. His eyes grew wide as well, and he shrank away. "Sorry!" He said. "I shouldn't have done that!" Chloe looked at him. Clark's quick kiss had surprised her, to say the least. "Don't be sorry," she said. "I've been wanting to kiss you for a long time." Clark looked at her, surprised. He knew that a long time ago, Chloe liked him. He didn't think she still did. "I love you, Clark." Clark Kent looked at Chloe Sullivan, baffled by her words. "I..." he began. Chloe stared at him. Please say it back, she thought. Please say it back. Clark looked at her with surprise on his face. He hesitated. She waited. The moment passed. Disappointed, she smiled sadly. "I should probably go." Clark Kent watched as Chloe Sullivan got up. He had been shocked when she said that she loved him. He cared deeply about her, and felt attracted to her, but he didn't know her feelings for him ran that deep. What was he supposed to say? She had taken him by surprise. He certainly hadn't seen that one coming. He watched as Chloe headed for the staircase. His mind raced. This was the girl who had stood by him through thick and thin, who had helped him weather many storms ( sometimes literally) and been there for him. And he was letting her get away... "Chloe!" He said. Chloe had reached the staircase. She was heading downstairs. She couldn't believe what had come out of her mouth. She had just confessed her feelings for him. Well, he had kissed her, after all. If he made one more demand that they remain just friends, she might just start screaming. She couldn't take any more hurt right now. When she heard him calling her name, she turned around. "What?" she said. "I love you too, Chloe." Chloe turned around, and there he was. Clark stood less than a foot away. "You love me?" she asked. How she had longed to hear those words. But she was still cautious. "As a friend or more?" Clark smiled. "I want you in my life, Chloe. I want you to be my lady." Chloe Sullivan looked at Clark Kent and smiled. "Good answer." The two of them embraced. "I've felt for you for a long time," Clark said. "I only realized it recently." Chloe gently touched Clark's face. "I don't care, Clark. I've finally got you to myself." Clark held the woman he loved in his arms. "What do you want to do now?" Chloe pulled him down into the hay with her. Clark grinned. The two of them giggled and laughed while rolling around in the hay. Slowly, they undressed each other. They explored each other's bodies, like young lovers often did. For a long time, they had wanted each other, but never acted on their desires. Now, at last, they were together. "Make love to me, Clark." Clark kissed Chloe, then he caressed her body. He touched her face, caressed her shoulders, ran his hands over her limbs and curves. Every inch of her. She was beautiful. How could he have spent so much time with her and not noticed? Now he was ravenous for her, planting kisses and caresses everywhere on her. He heard her moan and call out his name, and continued what he was doing. He explored every crevice with his loving, probing tongue and fingers. He licked and probed until she screamed out loud in pleasure. Chloe Sullivan opened her eyes, and looked at Clark. She looked at the boy she loved, the one who had brought her such pleasure, and she only wanted to make him happy. She gently caressed his fine, masculine form and ran her hands all over him. She licked his ears, his chest and went down to worship at his altar. When she began to please his member, she definitely had his attention. Nothing she loved more than making him happy. She licked and sucked until he screamed out loud in sheer pleasure. He was screaming her name because he was in heaven and she had taken him there. Superman: God Among Men Clark looked at Chloe. She looked up at him, smiling. He pulled her into his arms, placing her on top of him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and lowered herself onto his member. He entered her, and they were one. She felt his manhood inside her. Hot and strong and demanding. She sighed with pleasure and rode him. He placed his hands on her hips and thrust into her. They had become one. At last. When he let loose his essence inside her, she felt the wonder of it all. Her own pleasure had been building up and amazingly, they reached this high point together. Although she'd been with others, she had never felt anything like this before. When the sensations faded, she lay in his arms. Happy and satisfied. The two of them lay entwined in each other's arms. It was over. Clark looked at Chloe. She smiled at him. She didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. That's what it was like to make love with someone who loved you. The Fortress of Solitude... The Zod-machine looked at the body of its master. Centuries spent frozen inside the Phantom Zone hadn't harmed him. General Zod still looked the same way he did on Krypton, centuries ago. A six-foot-two, black-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian male with light bronze skin and an athlete's build. He didn't look a day over thirty. "Where am I?" Zod asked. He looked at the tall, bearded man who stood before him. "Who are you?" "It is I, Mechano, your faithful servant," said the Zod-machine. "I have freed you from the Phantom Zone, so that you may rule the world as is your right." General Zod rose. He sat on a crystal chair inside a massive Kryptonian complex. He listened to his servant as the sentient machine spoke. "We are on the planet Earth, as planned by you, lord Zod. Under this world's yellow sun, all Kryptonians have the powers of strength, super speed and flight. Only a fragment of Krypton can hurt us. We are quite safe from anything in here." "What of Jor-El?" Zod asked. Mechano, the sentient Kryptonian machine who served Zod smiled. "Dead, my lord." General Zod smiled. "What of Nam-Ek, Aethyr and Brainiac? I will need troops if I am to conquer this world." Mechano sighed. "Nam-Ek and Aethyr live, my lord, though they are trapped inside the Phantom Zone." Zod growled. "Who did this?" Mechano looked at his master grimly. "Kal-El, my lord. The son of Jor-El and Lara." General Zod rose to his feet and shouted in anger. When he did, the walls of the Fortress of Solitude trembled. Sunlight shone through the crystal structure and bathed his naked body. The Kryptonian leader could feel the sun powering up his body. Soon, he would have all the powers that any Kryptonian would have under a yellow sun. Super strength. Super speed. Invulnerability. X-Ray vision. Heat vision. Super hearing. He should be happy. But he wasn't. "Activate the machine of Jor-El and free my troops from their prison!" General Zod commanded. "Yes, my lord," said Mechano. Elsewhere... John Stewart found himself alone in the dark, unable to find his quarry. He decided to place his fate in the power of the Green Lantern. He allowed his consciousness to merge with that of the ancient power ring. He sensed that something very dangerous was at play here. When he merged with the ring, he could communicate with the ancient power within it. The power showed him many lines shot through with possibilities. The Green Lantern knew that in life, there were no accidents. No random events. Everything had meaning. It showed the young man what it could sense. It showed him his path crossing with that of Bart Allen, the thieving Speedster. It also showed him a point where Bart Allen's path crossed with that of another powerful being, one with a strong streak of good in him. It showed him the change in Bart as a result of meeting this powerful other individual. Stewart could see two other lines converging. A gathering of great powers ready to duel over this world. He could also sense pain and loss, and also a strong sense of justice emanating from at least two of the unknown players in the grand game that was to be played. One of them came from the sea, another was the union of man and machine. The most powerful one of all did not originate from this world. Stewart was shocked by what he sensed. Allowing the Green Lantern to guide him, he willed his consciousness to trigger the ring's awesome power and do what needed to be done. Atlantic City, USA. Victor Stone lay on the deck of the ship, dazed. He couldn't believe that the thief had actually bested him and thrown him out of the water. Whoever this guy was, he had a lot of power. Victor Stone was Cyborg, a super-strong, bio-mechanical super soldier. The average chump couldn't take him. This dude had some serious fire power, or rather, water power. He was still pondering that when a mysterious green light enveloped him... "What the..." Victor said. The green light seized him, and he vanished. Arthur Curry, also known as Aqua Man was swimming as fast as he could after narrowly escaping from the super-fast security guard. He smiled to himself. That was a close one. He was still congratulating himself on freeing the dolphin and getting away from the guard when suddenly a green light appeared all around him and enveloped him. Before he could do anything, the green light seized him, and he vanished... Smallville.... John Stewart stood in the middle of a corn field. He looked at the glowing ring on his finger, and trusted in his power. The awesome power inside the ring would take the various players in this grand game where they needed to be. He took a look around, and saw that he was in Smallville, Kansas. "Thus is the will of the Ring, " he told himself. The young Green Lantern sighed, and started walking, heading for town. He needed to find a motel room for the night. If this was the place where the ultimate battle for planet Earth would take place, then so be it. He would do his duty, as he had always done before. Victor Stone landed in the mud, in the middle of a farmyard. The young man grimaced, and looked around, a wild look in his eyes. Where was he? How did he get there? He looked and saw that he was in a familiar place. Yes, he was back in Smallville. Of all the places on Earth! He didn't get it. One minute he was on the deck of a ship, wondering how he got his clock cleaned by some swimming thief, the next minute, he was in the middle of a Kansas farm. Damn. Oh, well. He knew what he had to do. Find a place for the night, and call his girlfriend to tell her he wouldn't make it home tonight. Man, explaining to her was gonna be fun! Nearby.... Arthur Curry fell into the river with a splash. He swam to the surface, and looked around wildly. Where in hell was he? He wasn't in the city anymore, that's for damn sure. How in hell did he get there? One minute he was swimming in the water, after getting rid of the super-fast security guard, then a green light caught him and next thing he knew, he was in the water. He quickly swam to the river bank and took a look around. The place looked... familiar. Arthur Curry groaned. "I'm in Smallville, again." He said. Shaking his head, he decided to head back to the Talon. Maybe Lois was there. She probably would be surprised to see him. He thought about the kid he met last time he was in town. Clark Kent, boy scout extraordinaire. The kid had actually saved his skin when Lex Luthor captured him. Maybe he should give Clark a buzz since he was in his town. Telling him how he went from Atlantic City to Kansas in a few seconds was gonna be a laugh riot... The Fortress of Solitude... General Zod stood in the Chamber of Knowledge. He wore a red and black costume made of fine leather. He could already sense his powers growing. Soon, he would be at full power. He tested himself by leaping a full hundred feet off the ground and landing evenly on his own two feet. He could never have done that in Krypton. He grabbed a steel bar and crushed it between his fingers. Yes, his powers were growing. Another day or so in the sunlight and he would have full power. "Is it ready?" He asked Mechano, his ancient, faithful servant. "Yes, my lord." The Portal opened, and two forms came out of it. General Zod looked at them. A tall, dark-skinned athletic male strode forward, accompanied by a tall, alluring female. Nam-Ek and Aethyr, the Disciples of General Zod. His most faithful warriors since Krypton. "My lord!" said Aethyr. She knelt before Zod, and Nam-Ek did the same. General Zod smiled. "Rise!" He said. Aethyr and Nam-Ek greeted their leader respectfully. It was good to see him. "I am here thanks to my faithful Mechano," Zod said, indicating the sentient shape-shifting machine. "He tells me that the spawn of Kal-El still lives." "I am sorry, my lord," said Nam-Ek. "He tricked us," Aethyr spat. "He's a lying trickster, just like his father." General Zod smiled. "Enough, my friends. You need to rest. The light of this yellow sun will nourish you and restore the powers you lost when you went into the Phantom Zone. Within a day or two, you will be at full power. Then we will conquer this world." Nam-Ek smiled. Aethyr nodded at Zod. "What of the son of Jor-El?" General Zod smiled. "He will kneel before Zod, and then he will die." Nam-Ek smiled. So did Aethyr. Mechano respectfully nodded. Now that General Zod, the most brilliant military mind ever produced by Krypton was free once more, the universe would bend to the will of the mighty Kryptonians, as it should have a long time ago. Back on Krypton, So many people had opposed them. Led by Jor-El, the Supreme Council of the planet Krypton had captured Zod and locked him inside the Phantom Zone. Aethyr and Nam-Ek had taken a spaceship and gone through space, looking for a way into the Zone to save their leader. Now, he was with them. At last. Now, they would take over the world and destroy the son of Jor-El, destroying the House of El forever.