"One Universe" RPG thread.

[Batman]

(IC: Clark Kent)

I've been sitting on the porch for hours. I've only begun to reaccept the crisp, clean air of the cornfields infront of me, as opposed to the pollution of the city I left. I've only asked myself one question, the entire time... And I have yet to get an answer.

Was it all a waste?

I look over at the mailbox, reading 'KENT'. The one I accidentally burned in half when I was twelve, when I was getting used to my heat ray vision.

I became Superman to do what needed to be done. To make the world an overall better place... A place it deserved to be. Where a person who could fly didn't need to lift heavy objects, melt things with his eyes, freeze things with his breath just to get that message across. I wanted to inspire.

And yet... It only took one man to contradict that ideal. According to him, my hopes for world peace and happiness to all were nothing more than a target for larger, more dangerous threats. A target for more of what I wanted to prevent. A target... nothing more.

I've looked upon my life. Those years I spent, wondering why I was so different from everyone around me. Why I had to keep myself hidden, in order to protect Ma and Pa. My high school years, with Lana... Her inspiration for me to become a reporter. Moving to Metropolis... Meeting Lois, Jimmy, and Perry. The attack at the opening of LuthorFisk Towers. My reveal to the world. The first time Lois called me Superman. The attack on The Fantastic Four... The Hulk's rampage at Stark's mansion... Jor-El's summoning of me at the Fortress... The invasion... and now, this.

I've begun to wonder if any of that would've changed for the better, had I chosen a different path. Had I simply not used my powers... Lived the life I selfishly wanted to live. A life as Clark Kent... the Kansas native. Not the alien... Not 'The Man Of Steel', as they came to call me... Just an average, normal person in a big, bold world where the people around me wore tights and fought alien invaders.

I turn, hearing the door creak open. Ma and Pa stand in it. Their faces convey worry. I've already told them what I plan to do. Needless to say, they didn't like it. But if it means that they will live to see another day... I can't change my mind.

"Are you alright, Son?"

I sigh, a little, before shaking my head "No". How could I be alright? I may have wasted my entire life on an ideal that was just shattered before my very eyes.

"Clark... You know how we feel about you going. And don't think that our opinion has any weighing on what I'm about to ask... But, are you alright with going?"

I stand, leaning against the fence.

"I... don't know. I don't know, Ma. I just..."

She nods, understanding.

"It's not that I want to leave. You both know that. But at the same time... I never wanted any of this to happen in the first place."

"Luthor?"

"No. All of it. Using my powers... putting you all in danger... being Superman. I wish I had never done it, now more than ever. I know I had doubts before... I came here the last time, too. But this is different. This is... The truth. Everything I tried to accomplish blinded me from seeing the outcomes, and I don't know what would've happened if I had just stayed normal.", I tell them.

"Clark... You're not normal. All three of us have known that for quite some time. I... Jonathan, I don't think I'm saying this right. Could you...?"

"What your mother is trying to say is that... You couldn't have tried to live a lie. It's not what any of us... yourself included, would've wanted. You are Clark Kent... You're our son, and we're proud of you for it. But you're also Superman. You can't just abandon that part of you."

I look at them. They're right... But... that's what got me into this situation in the first place. Being who I am.

"I... I know. I know, it's just... Being who I am has put so many people in danger. Thousands died because of me. Thousands, Pa. I'm... not exactly sure I can live with that guilt.", I say, as my head lowers.

"Clark..."

"Honey... You didn't kill those people.", Ma says, walking up to me. "That monster... Zod, or whatever he chooses to call himself, did. You didn't kill anyone. You're no murderer."

"But whether or not I meant to isn't the point. I didn't want anyone to die... Everyone knows that. Even Luthor probably does. But whether I meant to or not... They still died in my name. I was inspiration for such an act..." , I respond, still not even able to fully grasp how I could've been the reason for so much chaos... So many lives taken.

I put my hands on her shoulders.

"I know you mean well. I know you both do... You always have. And I can't even begin to thank you for all that you've both done for me. But... I don't have a choice, anymore. If I don't do this... Zod will only do more. Maybe even worse. And I cannot allow that to happen.", I say, trying my best to make them feel better about this in my tone.

"I have to."

She and Pa both hug me. I hug them back. I can't... I don't know how I'm going to be able to live without them. Tears roll down my face, as tears roll down theirs, aswell. This can't be goodbye. I can't tell myself that this is goodbye. I just... can't.

That's when we all hear something. A noise. Like a low kneeling, of some sort. We turn to the barn, seeing it. A green light is glowing from it. I part from Ma and Pa, walking over to it. The light is glowing brighter. I take the doors of the barn, and open them, as I'm enveloped in a green light. It's... the ship. The vessel that carried me from Krypton to Earth. I approach it. It hasn't glowed like that since I found the crystal that created the Fortress...

'Kal-El.'

My eyes widen. Jor-El's voice.

'You must return to the Fortress of Solitude, Kal-El. It is of dire concern.'

I almost respond. Should I...?

It stops me before I can. The light disappears, and the noise fades, leaving me in the darkness of the barn. I turn to Ma and Pa, behind me, a look of concern on my own face.

"I don't-"

"Go, Son. It sounded important. You need to."

"But-"

"Your father's right. You need to go."

I sigh. There's really no arguing with him. Especially at the tone of Jor-El's voice...

I hug them both, again.

"I'll be back. This isn't goodbye. I promise.", I say, before breaking from them, and hovering into the sky.

"Wait."

I turn, mid-air, seeing Ma run to the porch, and run back to me, holding something in her hands. It's folded.

"You'll need this."

She opens it, revealing an obviously newly sewed Superman suit. I look at it, hesitant.

"Take it, Clark. For us.", Pa says, with a nod.

I float down, and take it from Ma. I look at them again. I can still see their worry...

"My promise still stands."

"We know. And we love you."

I nod, with somewhat of a smile, before taking to the skies. Maybe even for the final time. These days... I'm not really sure, anymore.

 

[Watchman]

"The X-men? That like a late night gay porn show or something?"

"No..." Magneto was starting to get annoyed by this man "It's a group of mutants, like you and me, that seek to make a peace with the humans. Xaiver would like to create a world in which humans and mutants co-exists. I need his X-Men out of the picture for what I have planned. So what do you see will you do this task for me?"

 

[LibrarianThorne]

The ship landed on the grounds of Castle Doom. Hayden left the ship and Doombots entered it retrieving the item. The carried it deep into the walls of the castle. Hayden entered the the massive throne room and walked toward the back of it where Doom sat.

"Lord Doom I have retrieved the item what will you have me do next?"

Doom pondered the last item he needed. He had the Absorbicron, now. He had the power generator necessary to generate the awesome power the AMAZO would require. The last item, the most critical one, would come from Wayne Industries. The memory unit that would be capable of storing the supernatural powers of the world's heroes, and it's villains.
"Very good, Hayden. Now, your next item is most important. A-"
A robot, one bearing his face, put its hand on Doom's shoulder. Doom looked up, displeased at the intrusion.
"Lord Doom, forgive the interruption. Long-range scans show incoming objects at high speed."

Doom stood, suddenly. "They would not DARE." He strode out of his castle, his green cloak flapping behind him. Angrily, he approached the battlements of his castle. Small magnifying lenses, built into the eyepieces of his armor zoomed in. He saw, through the clear blue skies, American fighter jets streaking towards his castle. At their head was a man in black.

"Zod. Activate all anti-aircraft defenses and FIRE!" Doom clenched the concrete battlement so hard that the battlement he held shattered like glass in his hands.

 

[Red]

"No..." Magneto was starting to get annoyed by this man "It's a group of mutants, like you and me, that seek to make a peace with the humans. Xaiver would like to create a world in which humans and mutants co-exists. I need his X-Men out of the picture for what I have planned. So what do you see will you do this task for me?"

"Do I get a cool helmet like you if I do?"

 

[Andy C.]

Doom pondered the last item he needed. He had the Absorbicron, now. He had the power generator necessary to generate the awesome power the AMAZO would require. The last item, the most critical one, would come from Wayne Industries. The memory unit that would be capable of storing the supernatural powers of the world's heroes, and it's villains.
"Very good, Hayden. Now, your next item is most important. A-"
A robot, one bearing his face, put its hand on Doom's shoulder. Doom looked up, displeased at the intrusion.
"Lord Doom, forgive the interruption. Long-range scans show incoming objects at high speed."

Doom stood, suddenly. "They would not DARE." He strode out of his castle, his green cloak flapping behind him. Angrily, he approached the battlements of his castle. Small magnifying lenses, built into the eyepieces of his armor zoomed in. He saw, through the clear blue skies, American fighter jets streaking towards his castle. At their head was a man in black.

"Zod. Activate all anti-aircraft defenses and FIRE!" Doom clenched the concrete battlement so hard that the battlement he held shattered like glass in his hands.

The skies over Castle Doom came alive with fire, both from the fortress's defenses and from the American fighters. Missiles streaked through the clouds, flak rounds burst in the open air, lasers cut a swath in the sky as both the American and Latverian forces scrambled to engage each other.

The walls of Castle Doom rocked as they were struck repeatedly with bunker-buster missiles. Fighters were caught in the hail of anti-air fire, sending the planes and their unfortunate pilots spiralling to the ground. All around, the chaos of battle swirled and burned, and Zod laughed as he weaved effortlessly through it all. He had not been this envigorated since he and his brigade stood against an army of Skrulls. As the warplanes and their targets poured destruction onto each other, Zod swooped downwards and perched himself upon the highest of Castle Doom's towers.

"Oh, Doctor?" he called out, spying the Lord of Latveria on the battlements, "I do hope I did not come at a bad time, did I?"

Just then, a missile from one of the American planes penetrated the castle's defenses, sending debris in all directions and engulfing the entire area in flames.

Low on fuel and unable to acquire their target through the smoke and fire, the American fighters pulled up, withdrawing from the area at hypersonic speeds. Zod was satisfied with how well it had gone. The Americans had really done little more than start a few fires and knock holes in some of the castle's walls, but Zod knew that if such firepower could be summoned on a moment's notice, then the Americans would be back in far greater force when they were organized.

In the meanwhile, it was time for General Zod and Doctor Doom to get better acquainted.

 

[LibrarianThorne]

The skies over Castle Doom came alive with fire, both from the fortress's defenses and from the American fighters. Missiles streaked through the clouds, flak rounds burst in the open air, lasers cut a swath in the sky as both the American and Latverian forces scrambled to engage each other.

The walls of Castle Doom rocked as they were struck repeatedly with bunker-buster missiles. Fighters were caught in the hail of anti-air fire, sending the planes and their unfortunate pilots spiralling to the ground. All around, the chaos of battle swirled and burned, and Zod laughed as he weaved effortlessly through it all. He had not been this envigorated since he and his brigade stood against an army of Skrulls. As the warplanes and their targets poured destruction onto each other, Zod swooped downwards and perched himself upon the highest of Castle Doom's towers.

"Oh, Doctor?" he called out, spying the Lord of Latveria on the battlements, "I do hope I did not come at a bad time, did I?"

Just then, a missile from one of the American planes penetrated the castle's defenses, sending debris in all directions and engulfing the entire area in flames.

Low on fuel and unable to acquire their target through the smoke and fire, the American fighters pulled up, withdrawing from the area at hypersonic speeds. Zod was satisfied with how well it had gone. The Americans had really done little more than start a few fires and knock holes in some of the castle's walls, but Zod knew that if such firepower could be summoned on a moment's notice, then the Americans would be back in far greater force when they were organized.

In the meanwhile, it was time for General Zod and Doctor Doom to get better acquainted.

Doom turned to Psycho Pirate and whispered, "Be silent and follow my orders. You are an unknown factor, Psycho Pirate, and I will use you as such."

Doom turned to see the still smiling General Zod. He had doubtless, if the reports were true about his powers, head Doom speak to Hayden. Of course, Zod did not know what lurked in sub-basement D5 of Castle Doom. He faced General Zod, a lethal smile visible in the moutpiece of his mask.

"Surely the great and powerful General Zod is not scared of me? Why do you cower then upon that tower, Zod? Does my visage truly strike fear into the heart of a Kryptonian?"

He saw that Zod was about to respond. "I CARE NOT FOR YOUR DEMANDS, ZOD!" bellowed Victor Von Doom, his voice surrounding and permeating the entire castle. It could be heard for miles around. "You will cease this adolescent behavior or I will have you incinerated where you stand. Now, you will come down here and accompany me, Zod. I have two things to show you. That is, unless you don't care for the lady Ursula. In which case I would only have one."

 

[LibrarianThorne]

"Humans of the United States, I am Magneto and I am a mutant. My kind has been oppressed by your kind for far too long. It is time for the oppression to end; for the age of humans to end and the age of mutants to begin. For years your scientists have talked about the theory of evolution but we are evolution. We are the next step in the evolution chain and the rightful inheritors of this Earth. My demands are simple I want the President of United States to publicly admit that we are the inheritors of the Earth and that the era of humans are over. Also I want him to recognize me as the rightful ruler of the country of Genosha, a country with even more mutant hatred then this one. If my demands are not made the consequences will be on a level never seen before."

"What you just watched was a speech made by the mutant terrorist Magneto. Not too long ago he was seen walking these very streets with his terrorist cell, known as "The Brotherhood of Mutants". Officials have advised the public to inform the police or FBI if they encounter him. This is a channel five exclusive. Stay tuned."


Victor's jaw almost hit the floor. Only moments ago the X-men were fighting the Juggernaut, and now Professor X's main nemesis was preparing for war. Victor rubbed his temples and wondered if he was really ready for what he was about to do. He got up and left the living room. In the foyer he found that everyone was still lost in their own world.

"Hey guys! Magneto and the Brotherhood are on the loose!"

Erik Magnus Lehnsherr. You never could see the forest for the trees, my old friend. Even as you set it alight.

After Scott, Logan, and Victor had theeir say, Charles Xavier spoke up. Great plans had begun forming in his mind, and his X-Men must know of them.

"Everyone! Listen please. We will have no direct response to this message. Magneto seeks a war and I will not give him one until we are prepared for it. We will repair the mansion and heal ourselves before we confront Magneto again, and next time we will not do it alone. Take this time, all of you, and learn how to control your powers. You will learn, also, much about Magneto. The next time we encounter them, we will be ready."

 

[Andy C.]

Doom turned to Psycho Pirate and whispered, "Be silent and follow my orders. You are an unknown factor, Psycho Pirate, and I will use you as such."

Doom turned to see the still smiling General Zod. He had doubtless, if the reports were true about his powers, head Doom speak to Hayden. Of course, Zod did not know what lurked in sub-basement D5 of Castle Doom. He faced General Zod, a lethal smile visible in the moutpiece of his mask.

"Surely the great and powerful General Zod is not scared of me? Why do you cower then upon that tower, Zod? Does my visage truly strike fear into the heart of a Kryptonian?"

He saw that Zod was about to respond. "I CARE NOT FOR YOUR DEMANDS, ZOD!" bellowed Victor Von Doom, his voice surrounding and permeating the entire castle. It could be heard for miles around. "You will cease this adolescent behavior or I will have you incinerated where you stand. Now, you will come down here and accompany me, Zod. I have two things to show you. That is, unless you don't care for the lady Ursula. In which case I would only have one."

Zod's smirk quickly faded, his composure shattered by this revelation. How in the name of merciful Rao could this be possible?! Ursa was one of Zod's most trusted allies-no, the single most loyal and vocal of his faction. She was the first to stand by his side when the Council deemed him a radical. She and her soldiers were the first to raid the alien settlements and force them into Kandor. When the confrontation finally came, she was the first target the Council had brought in, sentenced to the same damnation in the Phantom Zone as Zod. Although Doom had mispronounced her name, the message was clear: Ursa was here on Earth, among these apes, and was a prisoner.

The General became a dark blur, speeding off of the tower and coming down mere inches away from Doom, the impact of his landing shattering the floor beneath his feet. Zod's eyes glowed blood red as the intense heat built up in his retinas, ready to burn the Earthman to a cinder.

"How do you know of Ursa, you ape-spawn?!"

 

[LibrarianThorne]

Zod's smirk quickly faded, his composure shattered by this revelation. How in the name of merciful Rao could this be possible?! Ursa was one of Zod's most trusted allies-no, the single most loyal and vocal of his faction. She was the first to stand by his side when the Council deemed him a radical. She and her soldiers were the first to raid the alien settlements and force them into Kandor. When the confrontation finally came, she was the first target the Council had brought in, sentenced to the same damnation in the Phantom Zone as Zod. Although Doom had mispronounced her name, the message was clear: Ursa was here on Earth, among these apes, and was a prisoner.

The General became a dark blur, speeding off of the tower and coming down mere inches away from Doom, the impact of his landing shattering the floor beneath his feet. Zod's eyes glowed blood red as the intense heat built up in his retinas, ready to burn the Earthman to a cinder.

"How do you know of Ursa, you ape-spawn?!"

"Watch your tongue, General. Two Kryptonians are in my posession, and if you speak further insolence they will die. Am I clear, Zod? Or would you rather I give you their corpses and be done with it?"

Doom glared at Zod, meeting the haze of red with his own steely blue eyes.

"I know your kind, Zod. Despots who rule with fear, drunk on their own power. I have battled fear and terror," Doom spoke the words with such bile that one could almost taste how distasteful they were to Victor Von Doom, "and you are no new challenge."

Doom drew himself to his full height, and his voice took on a booming, commanding tone. "If you cease your prattling and follow me, I will take you to... Ursa. Yes, Ursa and the other."

 

[Trigger]

Erik Magnus Lehnsherr. You never could see the forest for the trees, my old friend. Even as you set it alight.

After Scott, Logan, and Victor had theeir say, Charles Xavier spoke up. Great plans had begun forming in his mind, and his X-Men must know of them.

"Everyone! Listen please. We will have no direct response to this message. Magneto seeks a war and I will not give him one until we are prepared for it. We will repair the mansion and heal ourselves before we confront Magneto again, and next time we will not do it alone. Take this time, all of you, and learn how to control your powers. You will learn, also, much about Magneto. The next time we encounter them, we will be ready."

Victor nodded. The Professor's serious tone reminded him that he wasn't just joining some exclusive group. He was going to become an X-Man, and they didn't just twiddle their thumbs and do interviews with Time magazine.

"I've never fought Magneto before, but if you guys took him down once, we should stand a good chance."

 

[Andy C.]

"Watch your tongue, General. Two Kryptonians are in my posession, and if you speak further insolence they will die. Am I clear, Zod? Or would you rather I give you their corpses and be done with it?"

Doom glared at Zod, meeting the haze of red with his own steely blue eyes.

"I know your kind, Zod. Despots who rule with fear, drunk on their own power. I have battled fear and terror," Doom spoke the words with such bile that one could almost taste how distasteful they were to Victor Von Doom, "and you are no new challenge."

Doom drew himself to his full height, and his voice took on a booming, commanding tone. "If you cease your prattling and follow me, I will take you to... Ursa. Yes, Ursa and the other."

Zod's mind boiled over with rage, his every sense overwhelmed with the urge to crush this insolent monkey with his bare hands. All of his grand composure, his carefully-plotted negotiations, dashed by this alien's gambit. If Ursa was in his thrall, then the other....could Non possibly be here as well?

The red glow from his eyes faded, and the General drew in a deep breath, trying to compose himself. He focused his enhanced hearing on Doom's pulse, could tell he was not lying. If Ursa and Non were truly here on this world, then Zod would find the means to free them, and then he would take his vengeance upon Doom for having him at this disadvantage. At the moment, however, the Rogue Son of Krypton needed the Earthman's technology to leave this wretched world, and needed his comerades freed.

Without saying a word, Zod lowered his gaze, and stepped aside for Victor Von Doom to lead the way.

 

[LibrarianThorne]

Zod's mind boiled over with rage, his every sense overwhelmed with the urge to crush this insolent monkey with his bare hands. All of his grand composure, his carefully-plotted negotiations, dashed by this alien's gambit. If Ursa was in his thrall, then the other....could Non possibly be here as well?

The red glow from his eyes faded, and the General drew in a deep breath, trying to compose himself. He focused his enhanced hearing on Doom's pulse, could tell he was not lying. If Ursa and Non were truly here on this world, then Zod would find the means to free them, and then he would take his vengeance upon Doom for having him at this disadvantage. At the moment, however, the Rogue Son of Krypton needed the Earthman's technology to leave this wretched world, and needed his comerades freed.

Without saying a word, Zod lowered his gaze, and stepped aside for Victor Von Doom to lead the way.

"Excellent decision, General," said Doom, letting a smile play upon his lips. Doom turned to one of his robots, knowing that his next command would enter the system through wireless recievers built into each of his robotic servants. "Prepare the two subjects in sub-basement D5 for viewing. Also, I would like something celebratory prepared. I think a sample of substance K43 would be appropriate."

The robot bowed deeply, then strode into castle Doom, following its programmed orders. After a few moments, Doom followed it into the castle. Zod kept his head low, but in the alien's eyes Doom saw great rage. To Doom's favor, Zod had underestimated him. As they walked through the massive oaken doors that made the main entrance into Castle Doom, Doom spoke. The crinckle of the torches that sat high on the walls could be heard over the almost deathly silence in the castle.

"I had, at one point, a very great respect for you General. You possess a keen mind, and your ability for conquest is second only, perhaps, to my own." The group, composed of Zod, Doom, and the Psycho Pirate, walked past the main lobby, its ivory staircase surrounded by portraits of Doom. The Burmese Tiger rug on the floor glared at them with wide, glass eyes. They walked in silence, until Doom stopped suddenly, and turned to face a wall that looked much the same as any other concrete wall in the castle. He pushed on a hidden lever, and the concrete bricks slid away to reveal a stainless steel room that gleamed as if new. Doom motioned for his companions to enter, and after they did so, Doom followed. "Sub-basement D5," said the lord of Latveria.

A sense of motion gripped the trio as the room began moving downwards. As it moved, Doom spoke. "I discovered them some time ago, during Darkseid's invasion. They were unconscious, and injured, and oddly enough surrounded by black glass and strange artifacts unlike any I had seen before. On one of the artifacts was a group of symbols that were not of terrestrial origin. What told me their origin was one of those symbols, so reminiscent of the symbol that Superman wears on his chest. Since that day, they have not seen the light of the yellow sun, and I have kept them unconscious. The better to study them, of course."

Finally, the room stopped, and the concrete wall in front of them parted to reveal a metal corridor. At the end of the corridor, in simple black lettering, were the letters D5. There was a total of four rooms, two on the left, and two on the right. A glow emanated from the room on the far right, and it was to that room that Victor von Doom headed. He paused before he opened the door. "I had planned on using these two subjects to barter with Superman, but you forced my hand much earlier than I had foreseen, General."

Then, he threw open the door. It was a large room, with small soft lights illuminating it. The room felt very antiseptic and spartan, as there was only a table laden with chemicals and two large cylindrical containers. In each container floated a human-looking subject, one female, one male. The blue liquid they were both suspended in gave off a faint glow.

"I trust that you know these two beings, Zod?"

 

[Batman]

(IC: Superman)

I dash down, through the clouds, entering the Artic area.

I don't know why I'm doing this. I should be leaving... Willing to turn myself in to Zod, before he can do something far worse. And if he has my powers... I'm sure he's more than capable. Perhaps... coming here is a good idea, now that I think about it. It's time I got some answers. Starting with the obvious... Where did Zod come from?

I fly down, through the partially hidden opening of the crystal like fortress. I remember the last time I came here. Right before the invasion. Jor-El warned me of impending danger last time. Perhaps there's another danger? Well, if it's Zod, he's too late in warning me...

I fly in, and land amongst the main, larger area. I waste little time walking up to the crystal platform before me. It lights up, at first. I cross my arms, as Jor-El's face beacons on the crystals before me.

"Welcome back, Kal-El. I do trust that you are not overly harmed since your last visit to the Fortress."

I narrow my eyes.

"Not physically. Why did you summon me?"

"You must be warned. For the prescence of kryptonian life, as you know, has increased upon this planet."

"I am aware. General Zod, as he calls himself."

"I sense anger within your voice."

"Who is he? Why was I told to be the last of my kind, if he exists? Why wasn't I warned of his attack?"

"Because Zod was never meant to come to this world, Kal-El. He was believed to be imprisoned within an inescapable structure far beyond your comprehension."

"Oh? And what would that be? Because it seems to me that this inescapable structure is not what you believed it to be."

"Perhaps not. But we kryptonians are far from perfection, even if our race was lightyears beyond human capability. Zod was a kryptonian criminal. Possibly the worst. He and his companions, Non and Ursa, commited various unspeakable acts on our homeworld. He was banished to what we kryptonians called The Phantom Zone."

My curiousity suddenly becomes piqued. I step closer to the crystals.

"The Phantom Zone?"

"It was dark, limitless universe, discovered by the living Jor-El and the council of scientists on Krypton. There, the most feared creatures of the universe were placed within it as punishment. Zod was only one of many sent there by your father himself."

My eyes widen.

"My father?"

"Jor-El had entrusted Zod, once. They had worked as allies, for the betterment of our homeworld. However, once Zod went mad, trying to overtake Krypton with his own diplomatic ruling, resulting in the deaths of countless innoncent kryptonians, Jor-El was forced to act accordingly. He testified infront of the Kryptonian council, and the three were banished to the Zone for eternity."

That explains it. Why Zod is looking for me... If he's been encased within the Phantom Zone all of this time, and my father has been long since dead, He's turning to me for his own vengeance. And he called me the outlaw...

I can feel the heat behind my eyes, already. Stop it, Clark. This isn't the time, nor the place...

"How Zod managed to escape from imprisonment is beyond even my own knowledge. But be warned, Kal-El... He is not a threat to be taken lightly. You must stop him, at once. For if he is allowed freedom for a great period of time... He has the capability to be a danger to every earth creature on this planet."

Stop him? But I can't... no. I already know how I'm going to stop him. By giving myself up. If vengeance is what he wants, he can have it. As long as Earth is kept safe.

"I am. And will. He's here for me... for vengeance, against my real father. It all makes sense. If he wants me, he can have me."

"No, Kal-El."

I pause.

"You mustn't trust the words or intentions of Zod. He is a criminal. But most importantly, his goals are to rule. You alone are not his primary intention, no matter what he has said, or what you have chosen to believe. Even after your surrender, he will go onto enslave the human race."

...What? But... Lies. All of it. All of what Zod has made clear... Luthor, even... It's all meaningless. He'll enslave the earth even after he's extracted his revenge on me. I can't...

Wait. Wait a minute... How do I know this is all true? What if this is all ploy, to stop me from surrendering? Can I truly trust this being... The one who told me that I was the last of my kind?

I look at him again.

"How do I know this to be true? Assure me that surrendering would not save the planet."

"That is something, Kal-El, that even I cannot do. I cannot show you factual evidence to support my claims. I can also never tell you what decisions you must make. When your homeworld was destroyed, you were free. Now you are still. All decisions... what you believe, what you choose to accomplish in life, Kal-El... are your's, and your's alone."

I sigh. I would've liked a more straight answer. Now I'm even more confused, and more conflicted. I shouldn't have come. It's only making my current situation worse... and I didn't think that was possible.

I nod, and turn, ready to fly out.

"Remember, Kal-El. No matter what beliefs have been instilled within you, appearances can truly be decieving. Entrust your own judgement. For it will guide you to your destiny."

I look back, hearing that, as the face in the crystals fades away. What did he mean by that? I turn. I'm getting sick of his vague messages and warnings. If there's something needed to be called to my attention, he needs to just tell me. I have no time, nor the patience to deciepher his games.

I'm leaving.

Leaping into the air, I take to the skies, flying as far away from the area as I can. I fly, straight up. Past the clouds. Past the blue skies. Past everything... Until I've reached the Earth's atmosphere. I turn, floating as I look at the large planet infront of me.

Will I really be making the right decision?

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

"Murdered."

"My parents were murdered, right in front of me. For no reason at all, except being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"They were murdered by a monster, while doing the thing they loved most in the world. All of my family was killed...except for me. Sometimes though, at night, I lie awake, wishing I had been taken to, praying for the end to come. But it hasn't. Maybe...maybe there something left for me."

"The world is full of evil people. The monster who killed my family, and the man who took me in. I learned quickly it wasn't out of the kindness of his heart. I'm not even sure he has a heart. It was about profit, gain."

"So, I took a little lesson from him before I left. I profited off of his gains. He had stolen formulas from some rival company for near indestructible cloth. Took it from some guy named Wayne. I took just enough material for what I needed. And then I was gone."

"I think I've finally figured out why I'm still here. I'm here to take down people like those who took everything from me. I'm here to make a difference."

 

[Andy C.]

"Excellent decision, General," said Doom, letting a smile play upon his lips. Doom turned to one of his robots, knowing that his next command would enter the system through wireless recievers built into each of his robotic servants. "Prepare the two subjects in sub-basement D5 for viewing. Also, I would like something celebratory prepared. I think a sample of substance K43 would be appropriate."

The robot bowed deeply, then strode into castle Doom, following its programmed orders. After a few moments, Doom followed it into the castle. Zod kept his head low, but in the alien's eyes Doom saw great rage. To Doom's favor, Zod had underestimated him. As they walked through the massive oaken doors that made the main entrance into Castle Doom, Doom spoke. The crinckle of the torches that sat high on the walls could be heard over the almost deathly silence in the castle.

"I had, at one point, a very great respect for you General. You possess a keen mind, and your ability for conquest is second only, perhaps, to my own." The group, composed of Zod, Doom, and the Psycho Pirate, walked past the main lobby, its ivory staircase surrounded by portraits of Doom. The Burmese Tiger rug on the floor glared at them with wide, glass eyes. They walked in silence, until Doom stopped suddenly, and turned to face a wall that looked much the same as any other concrete wall in the castle. He pushed on a hidden lever, and the concrete bricks slid away to reveal a stainless steel room that gleamed as if new. Doom motioned for his companions to enter, and after they did so, Doom followed. "Sub-basement D5," said the lord of Latveria.

A sense of motion gripped the trio as the room began moving downwards. As it moved, Doom spoke. "I discovered them some time ago, during Darkseid's invasion. They were unconscious, and injured, and oddly enough surrounded by black glass and strange artifacts unlike any I had seen before. On one of the artifacts was a group of symbols that were not of terrestrial origin. What told me their origin was one of those symbols, so reminiscent of the symbol that Superman wears on his chest. Since that day, they have not seen the light of the yellow sun, and I have kept them unconscious. The better to study them, of course."

Finally, the room stopped, and the concrete wall in front of them parted to reveal a metal corridor. At the end of the corridor, in simple black lettering, were the letters D5. There was a total of four rooms, two on the left, and two on the right. A glow emanated from the room on the far right, and it was to that room that Victor von Doom headed. He paused before he opened the door. "I had planned on using these two subjects to barter with Superman, but you forced my hand much earlier than I had foreseen, General."

Then, he threw open the door. It was a large room, with small soft lights illuminating it. The room felt very antiseptic and spartan, as there was only a table laden with chemicals and two large cylindrical containers. In each container floated a human-looking subject, one female, one male. The blue liquid they were both suspended in gave off a faint glow.

"I trust that you know these two beings, Zod?"

Zod's eyes narrowed, his mouth pressed into a hard, thin line. It was all he could do to keep the unthinkable fury contained inside.

After a long moment, the General spoke.

"Yes, Lord Doom, I am well-acquainted with them. The female is Ursa, as you already know. She was my greatest compatriot, a brilliant tactician, and fiercely loyal to my cause. The other is Non, who was once little more than a mindless brute, but under my tutelage, became the most feared soldier across a dozen worlds.

Zod continued, speaking slowly and deliberately, so as to keep himself from losing control and throttling the masked man.

"I must admit, I have underestimated you. For an Earthman, your resourcefulness is undeniably impressive. So much the more important, then, that we settle this without further....incident. I offer my deepest apologies for the rather...dramatic...entrance I had made, but I realized that after my actions in America, I would not be allowed inside, so I allowed myself. Besides, I needed to make sure I had some...leverage..."

 

[LibrarianThorne]

Zod's eyes narrowed, his mouth pressed into a hard, thin line. It was all he could do to keep the unthinkable fury contained inside.

After a long moment, the General spoke.

"Yes, Lord Doom, I am well-acquainted with them. The female is Ursa, as you already know. She was my greatest compatriot, a brilliant tactician, and fiercely loyal to my cause. The other is Non, who was once little more than a mindless brute, but under my tutelage, became the most feared soldier across a dozen worlds.

Zod continued, speaking slowly and deliberately, so as to keep himself from losing control and throttling the masked man.

"I must admit, I have underestimated you. For an Earthman, your resourcefulness is undeniably impressive. So much the more important, then, that we settle this without further....incident. I offer my deepest apologies for the rather...dramatic...entrance I had made, but I realized that after my actions in America, I would not be allowed inside, so I allowed myself. Besides, I needed to make sure I had some...leverage..."

"Leverage is something you will not have, not as long as you deal with me. Computer, initiate experiment K43 on subject Kryptonian-2, add new subclassification: name: Non."

The liquid in Non's tube bubbled violently, and slowly the blue hue was replaced with a sickly green. Doom stood observing the tube, hands clasped behind his back. He did not see Zod's reaction, but he knew the alien would have no expectation of what Doom was doing to Non.

"Translating Kryptonian was a challenge, of course. I had so few samples and the language itself was, of course, unearthly. To aid in my studies, I employed other... skills I have acquired. Magic, actually, or at least a form of it that I learned in Tibet. Unconscious minds are so easy to peer in to, but there was so much I saw in the mind of Ursa that fascinated me. A volcano of shimmering gold, a jungle as red as freshly spilled blood. Simply fantastic imagery. Through her mind, I gained so much understanding. Non's, however, was a disappointment. Simple, brutish, and ultimately worthless."

Non's skin began turning green. Pulse monitors above Non began slowing down and becoming less stable.

"Another interesting discovery I made; radioactive meteorites of previously unknown composition were near the two subjects. The radiation was not overtly harmful to humans, though studies I later conducted showed that it could be cancerous if there was prolonged, unprotected contact. I'm sure, however, that how it affects us, what did you say, 'ape-spawn'? Yes, I'm sure that you have no interest in the effects on ape-spawn. I wonder then, what do you think of its effect on a Kryptonian?"

The beeping of the heart monitor became dangerously slow. The radioactive material in Non's solution was killing him slowly, a result that appeared to greatly satisfy Victor Von Doom.

 

[Andy C.]

"Leverage is something you will not have, not as long as you deal with me. Computer, initiate experiment K43 on subject Kryptonian-2, add new subclassification: name: Non."

The liquid in Non's tube bubbled violently, and slowly the blue hue was replaced with a sickly green. Doom stood observing the tube, hands clasped behind his back. He did not see Zod's reaction, but he knew the alien would have no expectation of what Doom was doing to Non.

"Translating Kryptonian was a challenge, of course. I had so few samples and the language itself was, of course, unearthly. To aid in my studies, I employed other... skills I have acquired. Magic, actually, or at least a form of it that I learned in Tibet. Unconscious minds are so easy to peer in to, but there was so much I saw in the mind of Ursa that fascinated me. A volcano of shimmering gold, a jungle as red as freshly spilled blood. Simply fantastic imagery. Through her mind, I gained so much understanding. Non's, however, was a disappointment. Simple, brutish, and ultimately worthless."

Non's skin began turning green. Pulse monitors above Non began slowing down and becoming less stable.

"Another interesting discovery I made; radioactive meteorites of previously unknown composition were near the two subjects. The radiation was not overtly harmful to humans, though studies I later conducted showed that it could be cancerous if there was prolonged, unprotected contact. I'm sure, however, that how it affects us, what did you say, 'ape-spawn'? Yes, I'm sure that you have no interest in the effects on ape-spawn. I wonder then, what do you think of its effect on a Kryptonian?"

The beeping of the heart monitor became dangerously slow. The radioactive material in Non's solution was killing him slowly, a result that appeared to greatly satisfy Victor Von Doom.

Zod clenched his fists, and hissed, "ENOUGH! You wish to gain your influence over me by torturing my comerades?! Then....very well."

The General knew that if he lost his temper now, if he broke the Earthman in half or incinerated him, as tempting as it would be, Ursa and Non would be lost to him forever. It was time to propose his final offer.

"You have bested me this time, but I wonder, will it mean anything? You said I would not have any leverage here, but need I remind you that you just moments ago opened fire on American warplanes?"

Zod turned to face Doom, whose expression was unreadable beneath the metal mask.

"I do not know much about this world, Earthman, but I know more than enough about empires, and how they are enforced. The Americans now see you as a threat, believe you to be in collusion with me. Even though they are wrong, they will not simply let you fire upon their forces and get away. They will pursue you with everything they have, and will reduce your grand castle and the kingdom around it to rubble."

The Rogue Son of Krypton glanced to the tubes, making sure Non was still alive. The pulse was faint, but still there.

"A series of events is taking place in America, events that will undoubtedly shift the course of your planet's history. There will be people who will take advantage of that...men like the American Lex Luthor. With his campaign against Kal-El and myself, he will sway the public opinion in such a way that he will undoubtedly become their voice, their leader. And men like Lex Luthor and yourself do not share power, am I correct?

"However, the rise of Luthor's power need not be your undoing. Since I left Pokolistan, it has become a breeding ground for an army. Thousands of soldiers, mercenaries, and terrorists from around this world are gathering, uniting under the banner of Zod."

Zod kept his eyes locked on Doom, made his offer.

"If you release my comerades, and grant me the technology I need to leave this planet, then the army of Pokolistan is yours to command. The nation of Pokolistan will be yours to rule, as well as strike through the invasion corridor I had carved into Russia....

"Think about it: Lex Luthor in the White House, and Victor Von Doom in the Kremlin. I know enough of your history to know that such positions of power will benefit infinitely from a Cold War. Grant me my allies and my leave from your planet, and you will have the ability to change this world as you see fit.

Zod's eyes narrowed.

"Or, you could kill me and my allies now, and lose the opportunity forever..."

 

[Andy C.]

(IC: Green Lantern)

Countless light-years away, in the very heart of the universe, the planet Oa toiled as its protectors struggled in vain against a power beyond comprehension. The Green Lantern Corps was fighting a losing battle, as hundreds of emerald warriors fell before two beings wielding the Power Cosmic. As hopeless as it looked, the Corps and their Guardians knew it had to be done...Galactus had to be stopped.

And in the center of Oa's only city, the Earthling Hal Jordan was confronted by a host of aliens.

"Halt! Who approached the Central Battery?!?!"

Jordan stopped in his tracks as a tall, thin, bird-like creature accosted him, pointing its power ring directly at him. The massive Kilowog stepped forward, said to Jordan.

"Don't worry about Uatu. He's a Shi'ar, and they can be a little edgy."

The huge Lantern approached the others, dozens of races all huddled around the Central Battery.

"This is Hal Jordan, from the planet Earth. He's the new Lantern of Sector 2814. Since we can't give him the regular training, just make sure to keep him out of harm's way until he's--"

"Actually, Kilowog, I believe Jordan should be placed here on the last line of defense."

A short, blue-skinned humanoid with a large head and white hair stepped forward. He wore a red and white robe, adorned with the symbol of the Green Lantern Corps, but he carried with him no ring. This was one of the Guardians that Hal heard Sinestro talking about.

"Greetings, Hal Jordan of the planet Earth. I am Ganthet, one of the Guardians of the Universe. Unfortunately, at this point, it appears I may be the only surviving one. Galactus and his Silver Surfer have defeated the rest of my brethren, as well as most of the Corps. They are here for the power of this before you, the Green Lantern Battery. Here, we must make our stand."

Hal had remained quiet, not sure which was more unsettling to him: the chaos of the battle, the strange appearance of the aliens, or the fact that he was getting used to it awfully quickly. Kilowog nudged him forward, and as he took his place in the circle around the Central Battery, he muttered to himself, "Tom is never going to believe this..."

*****

Elsewhere, the armory of the Green Lantern Corps resonated with a loud boom. Using the power of his ring to create a battering ram, Sinestro knocked down the doors.

"No time for protocol at a time like this...now, where is it?"

The pink-skinned Korugarian floated through the halls, the massive stacks of fearsome alien weaponry, each confiscated from countless worlds by the Corps to protect the people from destruction. From the mundane to the cataclysmic, Sinestro scanned each of the available weapons, until...

"Ah-ha! There we are!"

He had found what he was looking for: a Shi'ar Nega-Bomb...

 

[LibrarianThorne]

Zod clenched his fists, and hissed, "ENOUGH! You wish to gain your influence over me by torturing my comerades?! Then....very well."

The General knew that if he lost his temper now, if he broke the Earthman in half or incinerated him, as tempting as it would be, Ursa and Non would be lost to him forever. It was time to propose his final offer.

"You have bested me this time, but I wonder, will it mean anything? You said I would not have any leverage here, but need I remind you that you just moments ago opened fire on American warplanes?"

Zod turned to face Doom, whose expression was unreadable beneath the metal mask.

"I do not know much about this world, Earthman, but I know more than enough about empires, and how they are enforced. The Americans now see you as a threat, believe you to be in collusion with me. Even though they are wrong, they will not simply let you fire upon their forces and get away. They will pursue you with everything they have, and will reduce your grand castle and the kingdom around it to rubble."

The Rogue Son of Krypton glanced to the tubes, making sure Non was still alive. The pulse was faint, but still there.

"A series of events is taking place in America, events that will undoubtedly shift the course of your planet's history. There will be people who will take advantage of that...men like the American Lex Luthor. With his campaign against Kal-El and myself, he will sway the public opinion in such a way that he will undoubtedly become their voice, their leader. And men like Lex Luthor and yourself do not share power, am I correct?

"However, the rise of Luthor's power need not be your undoing. Since I left Pokolistan, it has become a breeding ground for an army. Thousands of soldiers, mercenaries, and terrorists from around this world are gathering, uniting under the banner of Zod."

Zod kept his eyes locked on Doom, made his offer.

"If you release my comerades, and grant me the technology I need to leave this planet, then the army of Pokolistan is yours to command. The nation of Pokolistan will be yours to rule, as well as strike through the invasion corridor I had carved into Russia....

"Think about it: Lex Luthor in the White House, and Victor Von Doom in the Kremlin. I know enough of your history to know that such positions of power will benefit infinitely from a Cold War. Grant me my allies and my leave from your planet, and you will have the ability to change this world as you see fit."

Zod's eyes narrowed.

"Or, you could kill me and my allies now, and lose the opportunity forever..."

Doom laughed. It was an odd sound, harsh, like plates of metal grating together. "Fool!" Doom stopped laughing, and stared hard at Zod.

"You think to know me? You believe that your simple mind, so focused on power and the manipulation of power, could understand the genius that is Victor von Doom?"

Doom strode to Non's tube, and placed a gauntleted hand on it. Non's skin was turning green, gaining a crystal-like hardness, and it had begun convulsing. "Computer, cease experiment and begin healing sequence K/42-P."

Slowly, the green in the tank was replaced by the calm blue, and Non's body stopped convulsing. He did not look at Zod as he spoke, rather his head was inclined down. "Empires are the way of the old, Zod. The way of the weak. Empires can never work, but they must never be told such. I will build something that will outshine all empires. All futures bright and shining will look to me and see their creator."

He turned sharply and faced Zod, a fire in his eyes. "You are a stupid, insignificant man, General. But you have your uses, as any tool does. I will make this offer once and only once. You will leave this place, and never enter Latverian air space again until you recieve a signal from me. Then and only then will you be allowed here again. Your task will be simple: devastation of this latest generation of 'super' heroes. In exchange, I will not kill Non and Ursa. If you prove yourself when I call on you, I may even consider giving them to you. However, break this agreement in any way and they will both die, followed shortly by yourself. Am I perfectly clear, General?"

 

[Midnight Ice]

Finally, I subdued him. It was only a matter of time.

I drop the knocked out Bullseye in a cop car and telll the cop to take him in.

I get back into the assault vehicle I came in and head back towards Lex Corp.

I wonder how the debate went.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Norrin raced into the upper atmosphere at a speed the naked eye could not hope to follow. Using the Power Cosmic to make himself intangible, Norrin did not pass around any obstacles in his path. He simple passed through them.

The feelings of immense guilt continued to wash over him.

I have felt these feelings before, but never like this. Coming here, to this world, the old feelings seem to be more potent, more...raw.

Norrin Radd watched on as more Lanterns foolishly attacked his master as he continued to set up his machines. Mighty Galactus paid them as much attention as a man would a small gnat. Without even turning around, energy poured from his master's being and the Lanterns vanished in a flash of light.

So much death...
Is this what I have become, thought Norrin as he looked at his silver hand, Some monstrous creature of the cosmos only able to bring about annihilation wherever I may go?

The Surfer turned his gaze, and his thoughts, back towards Oa.
I cannot be a party to this any longer...but I cannot betray my master. He spared my beloved Zenn-La. I owe him everything. But, am I so selfish to allow that to cloud my morals and to darken my very soul?

The Surfer sat quietly on his board, a battle of morality raging inside him, as he watched the horrors he had brought to Oa. This shining beacon of hope throughout all the universe was about to be extinguished forever.

And it was all his fault...

 

[Andy C.]

Doom laughed. It was an odd sound, harsh, like plates of metal grating together. "Fool!" Doom stopped laughing, and stared hard at Zod.

"You think to know me? You believe that your simple mind, so focused on power and the manipulation of power, could understand the genius that is Victor von Doom?"

Doom strode to Non's tube, and placed a gauntleted hand on it. Non's skin was turning green, gaining a crystal-like hardness, and it had begun convulsing. "Computer, cease experiment and begin healing sequence K/42-P."

Slowly, the green in the tank was replaced by the calm blue, and Non's body stopped convulsing. He did not look at Zod as he spoke, rather his head was inclined down. "Empires are the way of the old, Zod. The way of the weak. Empires can never work, but they must never be told such. I will build something that will outshine all empires. All futures bright and shining will look to me and see their creator."

He turned sharply and faced Zod, a fire in his eyes. "You are a stupid, insignificant man, General. But you have your uses, as any tool does. I will make this offer once and only once. You will leave this place, and never enter Latverian air space again until you recieve a signal from me. Then and only then will you be allowed here again. Your task will be simple: devastation of this latest generation of 'super' heroes. In exchange, I will not kill Non and Ursa. If you prove yourself when I call on you, I may even consider giving them to you. However, break this agreement in any way and they will both die, followed shortly by yourself. Am I perfectly clear, General?"

Zod turned his gaze away from Doom, not out of shame or fear, though that must have been what it appeared to the Earthman. In truth, Zod could not hide his smirk, amused by the sad irony of this man, denouncing Zod's supposed "arrogance" while putting himself on an altar, prattling on about the "weakness" of empires while proclaiming to create one of his own. Still, even if Doom was swallowing himself in his own ego, the General was getting what he wanted: his comerades freed, and the full blessing to pursue and destroy Kal-El and his ilk.

"It appears, Victor Von Doom, that we finally understand each other. I will break the American 'Superman' and his kind before me, and once I have returned for my comerades, I will never set foot on your kingdom or your planet again.

"Until then, I would advise you only to keep your word. If I discover you have betrayed me, all of your mechanical toys and glowing green rocks will not be enough to stop me from killing you. You place so much on your supposed 'genius,' but in the end, genius is only a means to attain power. And those who believe they can overpower General Zod...will only find themselves kneeling before me."

With that, Zod took flight, speeding out the door and maneuvering carefully through the corridors, before exiting through one of the holes in the castle walls left there by the American fighters. He propelled himself higher and higher into the sky, gazing down at the earth below him.

The lines of battle have been drawn, and the objective laid out, the General thought to himself. Now I shall gather my army, and begin the war in earnest.

With that thought in mind, General Zod tore across the clouds above the Balkans, making his way back to where his crusade on Earth began: back to Pokolistan.

 

[Andy C.]

(IC: Green Lantern/Sinestro)

Hal stood uneasily in the circle of Green Lanterns all gathered around the Central Battery, as a chilling silence hung in the air. There were no more rumblings, no more explosions, no more of the telltale sounds of the apocalyptic fury outside the walls. There was only a deadly silence, and Jordan wondered to himself, The other Lanterns, are they...? Is it over?

The Earthman looked at the other Lanterns, all of which had been introduced to him by Kilowog. There was Ke'Haan, Kilowog's second-in-command, a mammoth figure with an even more imposing appearance than Kilowog himself- as well as a much worse temper. There was Tomar-Tu, an odd-looking beaked creature. There was Laira, a rather attractive but chillingly quiet female. There was Salaak, a spindly four-armed alien with little regard for Jordan. And there were a few others whose names Jordan could either not quite remember or could not pronounce, but all of them stood their ground, waiting for the horror that awaited them.

The only two outside of the circle now were Ganthet and Kilowog, the small Guardian dwarfed even more by the presence of the massive head-trainer for the Corps. They spoke softly--at least, as softly as Kilowog could manage--as the other Lanterns readied themselves.

"Ganthet, you know I wouldn't question the Guardians unless it was really, really important. Well, I think this is. I knew Abin Sur good enough to know that he wouldn't send us any poozer with a ring, but Jordan's just a rookie. And you want to put him on the front lines...against Galactus?!"

Ganthet gazed up at Kilowog, unaffected by his towering presence.

"Believe me, Kilowog, I understand your concern, but I do not do this in disregard to Hal Jordan's safety, nor to I take our situation lightly. Jordan being here may prove more advanageous than you realize.

Kilowog frowned, but Ganthet continued.

"As you know, the Green Lantern rings are amplified by willpower, all things made possible by the sheer force of will by the wearer. And, as you may have seen, the people of Earth are naturally stubborn, nearly unshakeable in their willpower. Hal Jordan may not understand the threat Galactus poses, and that in and of itself may be our greatest asset. By not truly recognizing the power Galactus has, Jordan is less likely to have his will eroded. In many ways, his inexperience may be what saves us here."

Kilowog looked at Jordan, then let out a sigh of resignation.

"I hope you're right, Ganthet. And I hope Sinestro's getting his plan underway."

"What plan?"

*****

The inside of Galactus' ship, the Taa II, came to life, a cacophany of sound and light brought on by the presence of an Apokolips Boom Tube. From it emerged Sinestro, who immediately went to the task of wreaking as much havoc as he could. The ship's defense systems activated, and Sinestro dealt with them, bringing in his tow a massive amount of Thanagarian mines.

The world-ship rocked with explosions, and Sinestro smiled.

"Oh, Galactus? Surfer? How about we pick a fight on your turf instead?!"

 

[Logan Howlett]

Victor nodded. The Professor's serious tone reminded him that he wasn't just joining some exclusive group. He was going to become an X-Man, and they didn't just twiddle their thumbs and do interviews with Time magazine.

"I've never fought Magneto before, but if you guys took him down once, we should stand a good chance."

"Well......thats the thing kid, technicaly....WE never "took him down". He launched that Nuke, Iron Man stoped it, not us. Rogue there messed with his mind, the rest of us got pummeled into walls, and even she got banged up pretty good.....and this was all without his brotherhood backing him........he took all of us on alone."

I walk through a hole in the wall and next to a case on the dresser. I'm out of stogies but I always keep a pack of cigarets in the top droor. I open the droor and pull out the pack, pulling out a square and lighting it on a sparking wire protruding from the wall. I inhale deeply and say,

"But of course that was before we got the new russian metal head there."

I exhale a stream of smoke.

"Now I aint sayin its impossible, but most of you are still kids. Ya aint ready to go after big time mutant terrorists just yet."

I turn and look at chuck.

"Hell, I'm suprised that your even thinkin about lettin these kids fight! I realise we may not have much of an option, but aint you peacfull ol' Chuck Xavier?"

Chuck aint usualy to quik to start drawin up battle plans, that lil visit from his step brother must have realy shook him up.

 

[Trigger]

"Well......thats the thing kid, technicaly....WE never "took him down". He launched that Nuke, Iron Man stoped it, not us. Rogue there messed with his mind, the rest of us got pummeled into walls, and even she got banged up pretty good.....and this was all without his brotherhood backing him........he took all of us on alone."

I walk through a hole in the wall and next to a case on the dresser. I'm out of stogies but I always keep a pack of cigarets in the top droor. I open the droor and pull out the pack, pulling out a square and lighting it on a sparking wire protruding from the wall. I inhale deeply and say,

"But of course that was before we got the new russian metal head there."

I exhale a stream of smoke.

"Now I aint sayin its impossible, but most of you are still kids. Ya aint ready to go after big time mutant terrorists just yet."

I turn and look at chuck.

"Hell, I'm suprised that your even thinkin about lettin these kids fight! I realise we may not have much of an option, but aint you peacfull ol' Chuck Xavier?"

Chuck aint usualy to quik to start drawin up battle plans, that lil visit from his step brother must have realy shook him up.

Victor tried not to frown. He didn't need the feral man, Logan, knowing that he was still very nervous.

"Um, well.....What other option do we have? If we don't fight Magneto first, he'll fight us when we're least prepared. I don't about you, but I'd hate to wait for him to come here and pound our faces in."