"One Universe" RPG thread.

[wiegeabo]

The force at which Flash grabs me takes me by surprise. I drop my arrow into the quaking sand.

"No, I have to go back to get my arrow. I need it."

"We can't!" I look into his eyes. "...Dammit!" Can't do it while holding onto him. I get some momentum built up in my arms and sling Arrow into the air. He instantly freezes in place from my perspective.

I run back and see the arrow sinking down. I dive for it, phasing my body. Under the sand I get hold of the arrow and work my way back up.

I explode into the air, arrow in hand, and land, taking off on the 'hard' sand. When I catch up to the Arrow, he's almost reached the ground. Must have slowed down more than I thought under the sand. I grab GA and bring him back to my speed.

A few seconds later, and with the quake passed, we finally reach a calm area of the desert where the sands have stopped. "Sorry about that. Here's your arrow. You ok?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"We can't!" I look into his eyes. "...Dammit!" Can't do it while holding onto him. I get some momentum built up in my arms and sling Arrow into the air. He instantly freezes in place from my perspective.

I run back and see the arrow sinking down. I dive for it, phasing my body. Under the sand I get hold of the arrow and work my way back up.

I explode into the air, arrow in hand, and land, taking off on the 'hard' sand. When I catch up to the Arrow, he's almost reached the ground. Must have slowed down more than I thought under the sand. I grab GA and bring him back to my speed.

A few seconds later, and with the quake passed, we finally reach a calm area of the desert where the sands have stopped. "Sorry about that. Here's your arrow. You ok?"

"Yeah I think so."

I feel my face and realise that somewhere in all the fighting and running my mask feel off.

"Dammit."

Off in the distance I can see the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier looming in the air. I nod towards the Helicarrier.

"We better get to higher ground before all this get's nuked."

 

[wiegeabo]

"Yeah I think so."

I feel my face and realise that somewhere in all the fighting and running my mask feel off.

"Dammit."

Off in the distance I can see the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier looming in the air. I nod towards the Helicarrier.

"We better get to higher ground before all this get's nuked."

"Ollie...?" Holy...I mentally slap myself. Who else could it be? The goatee should have been the giveaway. "You're right..." I grab Oliver Queen (Oliver Queen?) and rush off. In no time we're dozens of miles away.

I drop Ollie off, "I have to go back. I can't let that nuke be used."

 

[Batman]

IC: Superman

The minute I hit the area, pellets of sand bounce off of me. The entire area is laced with it. But somewhere in all of it, I spot him. Zod. He did this. My blood boils, as I immediatley tear after him. He notices me too, and comes towards me.

I don't think I'll ever forget the force from the impact as we lock into eachother, punching and smashing, trying to gain the edge over one another. But honestly, I doubt either of us are getting anywhere, at this point. Need to do something drastic.

I grab him by the neck, and knee him in the chest as hard as I can.

"You want Krypton back, Zod?! You want to take it back just so you can enslave it all, just like the original?!", I say, in between blows.

"THEN DIE WITH IT!", I yell at the top of my lungs, slamming my forehead into his, and firing another blast of heat vision into his face.

"I've moved on! I've lived with the fact of it's death my entire life, but I remained strong! It's time you did too, Zod! It's past time that you learned of the pain I've carried for years!", I continue, punching him across the face, as years worth of agony and torment over the uncertainty of who I am... where I came from, courses through my fist.

He wants Earth. He can't have it. Earth is my adopted homeworld. Earth... is my home. And I once swore to protect it to the best of my ability. That hasn't changed. And it never will.

"I have a new home! AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME!"

 

[wiegeabo]

Before I can move the sound of exploding air hits me and Ollie. For a horrified moment I think the worst has happened. I think the nuke has gone off.

"No..."

But there is no blinding light. No cloud of doom dominating the horizon. I breath a short sigh of relief. But the realization of what really happened hits me, and I can't help but smile.

"Superman."

 

[Andy C.]

IC: Superman

The minute I hit the area, pellets of sand bounce off of me. The entire area is laced with it. But somewhere in all of it, I spot him. Zod. He did this. My blood boils, as I immediatley tear after him. He notices me too, and comes towards me.

I don't think I'll ever forget the force from the impact as we lock into eachother, punching and smashing, trying to gain the edge over one another. But honestly, I doubt either of us are getting anywhere, at this point. Need to do something drastic.

I grab him by the neck, and knee him in the chest as hard as I can.

"You want Krypton back, Zod?! You want to take it back just so you can enslave it all, just like the original?!", I say, in between blows.

"THEN DIE WITH IT!", I yell at the top of my lungs, slamming my forehead into his, and firing another blast of heat vision into his face.

"I've moved on! I've lived with the fact of it's death my entire life, but I remained strong! It's time you did too, Zod! It's past time that you learned of the pain I've carried for years!", I continue, punching him across the face, as years worth of agony and torment over the uncertainty of who I am... where I came from, courses through my fist.

He wants Earth. He can't have it. Earth is my adopted homeworld. Earth... is my home. And I once swore to protect it to the best of my ability. That hasn't changed. And it never will.

"I have a new home! AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME!"

"TRAITOR!"

Blood poured freely from his broken nose, and spewed forth from his mouth as he bled internally, but Zod could not feel it. All he knew was the mind-numbing hatred he felt for this treasonous whelp.

As Kal-El approached to press on his attack, Zod lashed out with both hands, grabbing his opponent on either side of his head and digging his thumbs into Kal-El's eyes.

"How dare you speak such blasphemy, you worthless peasant! In the name of Rao, I will kill you with my bare hands, wretched spawn of the heretic Jor-El!"

Zod clamped down, trying to blind his enemy. As he did, he fought the intense searing pain as Superman's heat vision burned at his thumbs. Try as he might, he could not rupture the eyes, so the General released the hold and immediately ducked to avoid Kal-El's heat vision. As he raced around him, Zod responded in kind with heat vision of his own.

The two Kryptonians whirled around each other in the Saharan sky, burning into each other with crimson glares. The ground below them crumbled and collapsed as the earthquake raged on, kicking up sand hundreds of feet in the air. This sand was boiled by the intense heat from the ongoing battle, and it fell to earth as a rain of glass. It was a surreal touch of beauty contrasting to the hellish fury that caused it.

***************

Two engines of alien power rained destruction upon each other, the very world around them suffering from their battle. Miles away, a man who was as fast as lightning itself was smiling, glad to see his ally back in the fray.

Miles away still, a man with an eyepatch stared in disbelief at the destruction he saw onscreen. Another man caught his attention with a question.

"Colonel Fury, sir, the warhead is armed, and the target is acquired. Requesting permission to fire."

The Colonel closed his one good eye, muttering a silent prayer for forgiveness from a God he wasn't sure he believed in.

"Give Superman thirty more seconds....then fire."

 

[Byrd Man]

Two engines of alien power rained destruction upon each other, the very world around them suffering from their battle. Miles away, a man who was as fast as lightning itself was smiling, glad to see his ally back in the fray.

Miles away still, a man with an eyepatch stared in disbelief at the destruction he saw onscreen. Another man caught his attention with a question.

"Colonel Fury, sir, the warhead is armed, and the target is acquired. Requesting permission to fire."

The Colonel closed his one good eye, muttering a silent prayer for forgiveness from a God he wasn't sure he believed in.

"Give Superman thirty more seconds....then fire."

"I know it's the only way, but we need to evacuate Green Arrow and Flash out of there."

_______________________________________________________

I get a cold, sinking feeling in my stomach.

"Flash, I'm heading back to the Helicarrier before this whole area turns into a crater."

I walk over one of the sandunes and look back at the aging warrior

"You coming with?"

 

[Batman]

IC: Superman

"TRAITOR!"

Blood poured freely from his broken nose, and spewed forth from his mouth as he bled internally, but Zod could not feel it. All he knew was the mind-numbing hatred he felt for this treasonous whelp.

As Kal-El approached to press on his attack, Zod lashed out with both hands, grabbing his opponent on either side of his head and digging his thumbs into Kal-El's eyes.

"How dare you speak such blasphemy, you worthless peasant! In the name of Rao, I will kill you with my bare hands, wretched spawn of the heretic Jor-El!"

Zod clamped down, trying to blind his enemy. As he did, he fought the intense searing pain as Superman's heat vision burned at his thumbs. Try as he might, he could not rupture the eyes, so the General released the hold and immediately ducked to avoid Kal-El's heat vision. As he raced around him, Zod responded in kind with heat vision of his own.

The two Kryptonians whirled around each other in the Saharan sky, burning into each other with crimson glares. The ground below them crumbled and collapsed as the earthquake raged on, kicking up sand hundreds of feet in the air. This sand was boiled by the intense heat from the ongoing battle, and it fell to earth as a rain of glass. It was a surreal touch of beauty contrasting to the hellish fury that caused it.

The heat is intense. I can feel blood spewing out of my nose as I press on with the attack. My skin begins to sting. But I've lost all care about that. I can only think of how wrong he is, in calling me a traitor... How much of a madman he is for wanting to destroy the life I've witnessed on this planet since I was nothing more than an infant.

I feel myself slip, once, and Zod's attack is agonising. I almost feel it dig into my skin, threatening to boil me alive. As I cry out in agony for a short moment, A thought pops into my head. I'm the only one that should die here, today. I should've known better than to go against someone like Zod. I'm way out of my league. No, I'm in my own league. I'm alone in my own league.

Wait. Wait, no. No, that isn't true. My father's words... my first memory comes back to me, as I suddenly forget the blazing heat. I remember it as plain as day... the day Krypton was destroyed... the first time I ever truly felt alone in the world...

"Never forget, My little Kal-El... You shall never be alone. No matter where you travel, no matter how unloved you feel, always remember, My son... that you will never be alone."

I remember the allies that stood with me in opposing Zod. Power Man, The Flash, The Green Arrow. Even those not in the battle... Jimmy, Perry... Lois. They're all depending on me to protect the world they inhabit. I'm not alone. I'm far from it. It's him. He's the one who's alone, now. And he'll stay that way, for all of the crimes he's committed. Not me. Because I'm not alone. I'm not alone.

With that in mind, I don't let the attack get to me for long. I get up, and press on, continuing to match his attack as the heat increases, destroying everything around us... except for eachother.

He's wrong. I am not a traitor. I am Kal-El, The last surviving son of Krypton. I am Clark Kent, The american, human raised farmboy from Smallville and journalist for The Daily Planet. And now, I stand before this monster as something else. Something I never truly felt I could even have the potential to be until this moment.

I am SUPERMAN. And nothing he can ever say or ever do will change that.

Suddenly, an even bigger blast of heat vision seers through my eyes, and hits him, sending him crashing into the sand. Whether that was just a misfocused calculation of a blast, or a more powerful dose of energy, I don't know. But I don't care. I float down to him, and immediatley pick him up by the collar of his armor.

I have no kind words for this man. This monster. This heathen. He is the enemy. He is the killer. Not me. Not Superman. I've done nothing wrong.

"Call me whatever you wish.", I respond. "But I have a few names for you too. And in the end, it really doesn't matter.", I continue.

"You will not die by my hands, Zod. I wouldn't give you the luxury. But you're going to answer for your crimes, from this day forward, until the day you die."

I narrow my eyes.

"I'll make sure of it. And I vow, from this day forward until the day I die, that I'm going to protect humankind from people like you. You're merely the first example of a long ending race of evil.", I finish. "And believe me... That isn't much of a title. General."

 

[Andy C.]

Suddenly, an even bigger blast of heat vision seers through my eyes, and hits him, sending him crashing into the sand. Whether that was just a misfocused calculation of a blast, or a more powerful dose of energy, I don't know. But I don't care. I float down to him, and immediatley pick him up by the collar of his armor.

I have no kind words for this man. This monster. This heathen. He is the enemy. He is the killer. Not me. Not Superman. I've done nothing wrong.

"Call me whatever you wish.", I respond. "But I have a few names for you too. And in the end, it really doesn't matter.", I continue.

"You will not die by my hands, Zod. I wouldn't give you the luxury. But you're going to answer for your crimes, from this day forward, until the day you die."

I narrow my eyes.

"I'll make sure of it. And I vow, from this day forward until the day I die, that I'm going to protect humankind from people like you. You're merely the first example of a long ending race of evil.", I finish. "And believe me... That isn't much of a title. General."

Zod struggled weakly, grabbing at Kal-El's arms to try and wrench himself free. It was all in vain, however; the poisonous sickness that the Earthmen had inflicted upon him had done more than he had realized, and the son of Jor-El had unleashed a powerful salvo that left him all but completely drained. Unfathomable hatred coursed through him, but he no longer had the strength to continue.

General Dru-Zod, whose armies once turned the tide against an full-scale invasion of Skrulls, whose fleets once nearly toppled the tyrannical rule of the Council, was utterly defeated by the son of a scientist.

"Damn you, Kal-El....it cannot end like this..."

As Zod struggled in Superman's grip, the viscous black ooze that had taken control of him began to seep out once more. This time, however, it dispersed into the air, as if fleeing. Did it know something that they did not?

-----------------

Miles away, on the bridge of the HeliCarrier, Nick Fury watched on the screen as Superman put Zod down. As it looked like the man in blue was moving in for the kill, Fury was more than ready to cancel the launch order. However, the final blow never came. Superman was relenting, hesistating.

"Come on, dammit, finish him off!"

Fury had heard that Superman was a bit of an idealist, but General Zod was simply too big of a threat to the general public. He had to be put away permanently.

"Colonel Fury, sir? The thirty seconds are up. Spotters indicate that Flash and Arrow have reached a safe distance, and....sir?"

Fury hung his head, looking straight down at the floor. It was an order he did not want to give, but he was a soldier, and this was war.

"Fire."

 

[Andy C.]

(double post)

 

[wiegeabo]

I get a cold, sinking feeling in my stomach.

"Flash, I'm heading back to the Helicarrier before this whole area turns into a crater."

I walk over one of the sandunes and look back at the aging warrior

"You coming with?"

I shake my head. "I've got to help Superman. He shouldn't have to face that monster alone."

I take off, but stop before I've gone a dozen yards as I see the dark object in the sky. He launched it...

I'm frozen in place, not sure what to do. If I try to warn Superman, Zod may get away. If I do nothing and the bomb hits them...

"Damn you..." Whether I'm saying it to Fury or Zod, I'm not sure.

 

[Byrd Man]

I shake my head. "I've got to help Superman. He shouldn't have to face that monster alone."

I take off, but stop before I've gone a dozen yards as I see the dark object in the sky. He launched it...

I'm frozen in place, not sure what to do. If I try to warn Superman, Zod may get away. If I do nothing and the bomb hits them...

"Damn you..." Whether I'm saying it to Fury or Zod, I'm not sure.

The small dot falls out of the sky and within a few seconds light blinds the whole area.

"Sweet mother....."

"...Of God"

 

[Andy C.]

Fire.

The world was on fire.

At one moment, General Zod was struggling with Kal-El on the desert sands. The next moment, there was a flash of light, and a force that felt as if it should be ripping him apart. Heat beyond his imagination seared the very air around him, and he and Kal-El were knocked away by a wind that was like the wrath of Rao himself.

Somewhere in the back of Zod's mind, he knew what had happened. The Earthmen had used some sort of crude nuclear device. The weakening sickness began to seize up in him again, and were there any air in the horror of the explosion, he would have screamed.

The world was on fire.

------------------------

On the bridge of the HeliCarrier, Fury watched as the mushroom cloud rose into the air.

"I want a hazmat team ready to deploy once the smoke clears. Scan the area for any survivors...or remains. Send agents to whatever goverments we need to keep this all quiet. Make sure we can reestablish contact with Arrow and Flash. ...and pray to God that Superman will forgive us."

A lone crew member spoke.

"So...is it over? Did we win?"

"Yeah. Hooray."

 

[Byrd Man]

I watch as the mushroom cloud disperses. I pull the pack of smokes out of my pocket and turn to Colonel Fury as I light up.

"It wasn't a complete sucess, Colonel. Today we saved the world. I have to go now. I hope we can do this some other time, other than times when Earth's being threatened."

Hard to believe that just two years ago I was on the run from the goverment. I remember an old song my granddaddy use to sing, I sing it under my breath as I turn from the bridge of the helicarrier and head out to a transport ship waiting for me and Amanda Waller.

"Freedom is mine
and I know how I feel
It's a new dawn.
It's a new day
It's a new life...
for me."

"And I'm feeling good."

 

[wiegeabo]

Ollie and I stand in the sand as the wind blows past us. At this distance we're safe from the radiation, for now, and the wind isn't much more than a breeze. But we still do not say anything.

In the distance we can see the helicarrier heading towards us. From the carrier, two smaller, faster craft fly out and make their way towards us. The two craft land and soldiers in full-body suits exit the multi-passenger cockpits.

"Sir!" one of the soldiers say as he snaps me a salute. "We're here to take you back to the carrier."

"Two ships? It looks like we could all fit into one."

"Yes sir. Our ship will be returning per Colonel Fury's orders. The second craft is going to scout the area."

"Scout the...you have radiation shielding?"

"Our craft and suits have marginal shielding. Enough to protect us on the outskirts of the blast."

"What about inside?"

"They wouldn't protect us for more than a few seconds."

"A few seconds is all I need."

"Sir?"

"I'm going to need your suit..."

***

A minute later I'm dressed in the protective suit, the soldier I took it off of at superspeed making sure everything is sealed properly. He wasn't happy about it, but there wasn't much he could do with the first signs of radiation beginning to appear. They needed to get out of there.

"I can't be sure how much time this will buy you, sir."

"Would you stop calling me sir?"

"Yes, sir."

I roll my eyebrows. They all look at me like I'm nuts. "Get out of here," I shout as the engines of the craft begin to wine. "When I get Superman, I'll run to a clear area. Have Fury pick us up then."

The soldiers nod and escort Ollie to one of the ships. The craft launches and takes off for the carrier. The second craft takes off on its mission to survey the area.

I look towards the center of the blast, build up the energy in my body, and take off as fast as I can to save another hero...

 

[Andy C.]

The explosion began to clear, and the Saharan sand was little more than fused green glass. Half-buried in it were the two Kryptonians; as impossible as it sounded, they were invulnerable even to the most horrific of humankind's weapons. Zod's eyes began to open slowly, and he caught sight of Kal-El. He struggled to his feet, and immediately fell over. His skin burned intensely, and it felt like his insides were on fire. The sickness...the poison.

As his vision blurred, he glanced downward, and saw something that chilled him to the bone. His suit of Kryptonium armor had changed in the explosion. Irregular chunks of green were growing off of it, and it pulsed with horrific energy. The Kryptonium was irradiated, and it had the same effect on him as the Earthman's arrow.

"No...this cannot be...I am Dru-Zod! The last hope of Krypton!"

He began to shudder. Foam flecked at the corners of his mouth, and he began seeing things. The younger Kryptonian, dressed in blue, was now standing before him. Suddenly, it wasn't him anymore, but his father.

"Jor-El...a curse on your family...Krypton will...will be mine ..."

The world went cold, and he screamed,

"You will bow down before me, Jor-El! No matter that it takes an eternity! Both you...and then one day....your heirssss....."

And then, it all went black. His body rattled violently, and then was still.

A wind began to howl across the desert, the only sound that could be heard for miles.

Zod was dead.

 

[Byrd Man]

Back on the Helicarrier, soldiers gawk at me as I try to hide my face.

"Dammit, Dammit, Dammit."

I see Colonel Fury surverying the battlefield.

"Colonel Fury, Sir."

I pull the edge of my shirt over my face, covering my mouth and nose to were only my eyes are showing.

"Green Arrow here, If you could arrange a transport for me to Star City. That would be great."

My shirt slips down, revaling my face.

"Damn....................Oliver Queen here.................................Nice to meet you I guess."

 

[Andy C.]

Fury shouldn't have found anything funny after having dispatched a nuclear missile on a hero like Superman, but even then, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"And I always thought that moustache was a fake. Rest easy, Mr. Queen; we're very good about being discreet with people's secrets. Transport will be prepared to take you back Stateside," Fury said, taking off his trenchcoat and tossing it to Queen, "And you can use this to cover your face. Other than that, I'd recommend getting some facial glue for your mask, and maybe seeing a new barber."

He allowed himself a grin, and then immediately went back to the task at hand.

"What's the situation on Superman and Zod?"

"Zod has been found, sir. He appears to be a confirmed kill"

"And Superman...?"

 

[Batman]

IC: Superman

"Damn you, Kal-El....it cannot end like this..."

As Zod struggled in Superman's grip, the viscous black ooze that had taken control of him began to seep out once more. This time, however, it dispersed into the air, as if fleeing. Did it know something that they did not?

I bite my lip, keeping my strength leveled. Can't kill him. I just can't. It has to end... The monster has to die. But I can't find the strength to cross that line. He deserves it more than anyone I've ever met. But... God help me... I refuse to be the one to do it.

I drop him onto the ground, letting him fall as some sort of ooze crawls from him. At first, I think it's blood. But it moves on it's own. Probably something to power that armor of his. I don't know. And I find little care in it. I don't know what I'm going to do with him... but somehow, I've got to make sure he gets what's coming to him. That he answers for his crimes.

Perhaps... The Phantom Zone? If I could reach Jor-El... Maybe there's still hope...

I stand over him, speaking as he tries to salvage any strength he has left.

"It is over, Zod. And I'm going to-"

Wait. Wait just a minute. Something just hit my hearing range. Something... flying. No, descending. Right above us. But by the time I look up... It's too late. All I see is blackness... Darkness. And fire.

A firey Armegeddon.

The explosion began to clear, and the Saharan sand was little more than fused green glass. Half-buried in it were the two Kryptonians; as impossible as it sounded, they were invulnerable even to the most horrific of humankind's weapons. Zod's eyes began to open slowly, and he caught sight of Kal-El. He struggled to his feet, and immediately fell over. His skin burned intensely, and it felt like his insides were on fire. The sickness...the poison.

As his vision blurred, he glanced downward, and saw something that chilled him to the bone. His suit of Kryptonium armor had changed in the explosion. Irregular chunks of green were growing off of it, and it pulsed with horrific energy. The Kryptonium was irradiated, and it had the same effect on him as the Earthman's arrow.

"No...this cannot be...I am Dru-Zod! The last hope of Krypton!"

He began to shudder. Foam flecked at the corners of his mouth, and he began seeing things. The younger Kryptonian, dressed in blue, was now standing before him. Suddenly, it wasn't him anymore, but his father.

"Jor-El...a curse on your family...Krypton will...will be mine ..."

The world went cold, and he screamed,

"You will bow down before me, Jor-El! No matter that it takes an eternity! Both you...and then one day....your heirssss....."

And then, it all went black. His body rattled violently, and then was still.

A wind began to howl across the desert, the only sound that could be heard for miles.

Zod was dead.

By the time I've awoken, I hear him screaming my father's name. I... I don't know what happened. Or why either of us are still breathing. But it isn't long before I realise something both relieving and horrific at the same time: One of us stops. And it isn't me.

I get up, lifting probably a dozen pounds of sand off of me as I watch his final cursed breath. And then... all is silent. The fire... it's gone. Buried over by the winded sand. We're amongst a crater that I didn't see before now. Whatever happened here to cause the explosion obviously the culprit. I look down at myself. My cape is insinerated. My costume in tatters. Blood slithers down my arms as numerous cuts become visible. And Zod... breathes no more.

It's a bittersweet victory. I'm not going to lie... I had hoped there was a better way. A more reasonable way of compassion, for a monster who didn't possess it. But I guess... there's nothing more I can do. The threat for the world has ended for now. Zod no longer threatens it in my name. I'm free to bring respectability to my race. I... I just don't know how. But I'll find a way. No matter how long it'll take, I'm going to find a way.

I step towards Zod. I'll turn the body into the authorities. Or the government. Whoever will take it. Then, go home, rest, and try to figure out just where to go from he-

My thoughts are silenced by a sudden jolt of pain. In my wounds. I look down at them. They're... they're glowing. Green? Why? I... How... I've... I've never felt anything like this. My breath is shortening. My veins are beginning to adopt the glow that my blood has. I look up, trying to contemplate this as the pain increases. I... I never thought anything could hurt me like this. I didn't think it was possible.

Wait. Zod's armor. Why is it... why is it glowing...

Green...

I drop to my knees, trying to fight it. That armor. What ever's on that armor is hurting me. No, worse. Killing me... at... at least I think. Good lord, what is that stuff? Got... got to get away... get... away. I try to crawl to my feet. I do. But I immediatley fall back over, on my chest. My skin is beginning to become sickly in appearance. Veins... blood... all glowing brighter. Getting a headache... a bigger nosebleed. And that darkness from before...

The darkness is returning. At first, I think it's that ooze from Zod. Then, I realise it's not some object that I'm seeing. It's coming from inside. I... I'm...

P-Passing... out...

 

[wiegeabo]

My thoughts are silenced by a sudden jolt of pain. In my wounds. I look down at them. They're... they're glowing. Green? Why? I... How... I've... I've never felt anything like this. My breath is shortening. My veins are beginning to adopt the glow that my blood has. I look up, trying to contemplate this as the pain increases. I... I never thought anything could hurt me like this. I didn't think it was possible.

Wait. Zod's armor. Why is it... why is it glowing...

Green...

I drop to my knees, trying to fight it. That armor. What ever's on that armor is hurting me. No, worse. Killing me... at... at least I think. Good lord, what is that stuff? Got... got to get away... get... away. I try to crawl to my feet. I do. But I immediatley fall back over, on my chest. My skin is beginning to become sickly in appearance. Veins... blood... all glowing brighter. Getting a headache... a bigger nosebleed. And that darkness from before...

The darkness is returning. At first, I think it's that ooze from Zod. Then, I realise it's not some object that I'm seeing. It's coming from inside. I... I'm...

P-Passing... out...

Time around me is so slow. But he's alive. Superman is still alive! And Zod looks to be dead. It worked. But was it worth the price?

I'm running as fast as I can, trying to minimize my exposure to the radiation. The warning badge on my chest had already changed color from blue to green to yellow. And I've only been in the blast zone for a single second.

Damn! By the time I reach Superman, he's fallen on the ground and looks almost as sick as Zod did. He's badly wounded and blisters are forming on his skin. Must be somekind of radiation poisoning.

I don't stop running as a snatch Superman up by the shoulders and keep moving. A glance at my badge tells me it's now orange and starting to deepen to red. I don't want to know what happens after that.

I keep running, but start feeling tired. The extra weight I'm carrying slowing me down more than I expected. After a couple of miles I feel exhausted. I get a few more miles before my arms give out and I drop Superman in the sand. My legs carry me a few more steps and, a hundred yards away from the Kryptonian, I fall myself, rolling for a few seconds.

I lay on my back, looking up at the sky. I notice my badge is now brown, and starting to tint black, but I can't think of what that means...

My eyelids begin to flutter and I reach out with one hand towards...

"...Joan......."

 

[Byrd Man]

Fury shouldn't have found anything funny after having dispatched a nuclear missile on a hero like Superman, but even then, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"And I always thought that moustache was a fake. Rest easy, Mr. Queen; we're very good about being discreet with people's secrets. Transport will be prepared to take you back Stateside," Fury said, taking off his trenchcoat and tossing it to Queen, "And you can use this to cover your face. Other than that, I'd recommend getting some facial glue for your mask, and maybe seeing a new barber."

He allowed himself a grin, and then immediately went back to the task at hand.

"What's the situation on Superman and Zod?"

"Zod has been found, sir. He appears to be a confirmed kill"

"And Superman...?"

I wrap the trenchcoat around my head and head out to a Helicopter on the helicarrier's deck.

"Where to Mr. Arrow?"

"Star City."

As the chopper takes off into the air I look down at the destruction and think how worse it could have been. I wonder what dad would say if he seen me now? Would he be proud that his boy helped saved the world?

"I bet he would."

"What Mr. Arrow?"

"Nothing, just thinking outloud."

 

[Batman]

IC: Superman

Time around me is so slow. But he's alive. Superman is still alive! And Zod looks to be dead. It worked. But was it worth the price?

I'm running as fast as I can, trying to minimize my exposure to the radiation. The warning badge on my chest had already changed color from blue to green to yellow. And I've only been in the blast zone for a single second.

Damn! By the time I reach Superman, he's fallen on the ground and looks almost as sick as Zod did. He's badly wounded and blisters are forming on his skin. Must be somekind of radiation poisoning.

I don't stop running as a snatch Superman up by the shoulders and keep moving. A glance at my badge tells me it's now orange and starting to deepen to red. I don't want to know what happens after that.

I keep running, but start feeling tired. The extra weight I'm carrying slowing me down more than I expected. After a couple of miles I feel exhausted. I get a few more miles before my arms give out and I drop Superman in the sand. My legs carry me a few more steps and, a hundred yards away from the Kryptonian, I fall myself, rolling for a few seconds.

I lay on my back, looking up at the sky. I notice my badge is now brown, and starting to tint black, but I can't think of what that means...

My eyelids begin to flutter and I reach out with one hand towards...

"...Joan......."

The last thing I can contemplate is that the green that blackens my vision. I've never felt more vulnerable... more weak in my entire life. I'm sure of death. I don't know why or how it's affecting me like this, but the last thought that races through my mind is that I'm going to die.

Yet, my eyes open again. I can see the sun above me, through the wind and sand. And I'm breathing. I pull myself up, looking around. The sand makes it hard to see... But I realise that I'm still hurting. Whatever that stuff was, I'm probably still near it. Have to get away... before it does kill me...

But by the time I've made it to my feet, I realise that I'm not alone, as I look down a sand dune below me. The individual is practically unrecogniseable... he's wearing some sort of containment suit. But he looks weakened. Possibly even worse than that. I look around, not seeing Zod anywhere. But we're still in the Sahara. Whatever that stuff is, it's not only hurting me. It's hurting him too. Enough to warrant a containment suit. Maybe, radiation of some kind?

Whatever it is, I'm not worrying about it now. Sliding my way down the hill, I walk over to the individual, turning his head around. Through the visor of his headpiece, I see a familiar face: The Flash.

No. No, He can't die. Not after all that he did to help me. I can't let him. I have to try and help him...

Throwing him over my shoulder, I look up into the sky. Come on, Clark. You've done good so far. Now's not the time to lose it. You can do it. I can pratically feel the sun's rays are fighting with the radiation here, within my body. My cells, as Jor-El explained. Come on... Come on... You can do it, Clark. You can do-

I feel my feet rise from the ground. Then my entire body. Pretty soon, I've found myself in the air again. The sun's rays bathe me in a newfound energy. I feel... alive again. -it.

Flying upwards, through the sandstorm, I breathe in a crisp, clean patch of air, and smile. If The Flash lives, then the day is won. But only if he lives. I need to get him out of here, and get hel-

I look up, as something blocks the sun above me. A craft. The same one that I took Power Man to. Maybe they can get him to safety. Not wasting the time to give it a second thought, I fly up to the craft, and to the top. Spotting a door, I land, and rush Flash inside. It only takes me a second to realise that the door was actually locked, but I don't care. A man's life is in danger. A hero's life is in danger.

"Hello?! Is anyone there?! This man needs medical assistance! Fast!"

 

[Byrd Man]

I wrap the trenchcoat around my head and head out to a Helicopter on the helicarrier's deck.

"Where to Mr. Arrow?"

"Star City."

As the chopper takes off into the air I look down at the destruction and think how worse it could have been. I wonder what dad would say if he seen me now? Would he be proud that his boy helped saved the world?

"I bet he would."

"What Mr. Arrow?"

"Nothing, just thinking outloud."

Star City, California

After the S.H.I.E.L.D chopper lands on top of my penthouse I make my way inside and for the first time in what feels like weeks, I sit down. I reach down and flick on the intercomm.

"Alica, Ollie here. I need two things from you: First, get me the quartley report on Queen Tech, Second call up miss Melissa Angel and see if she's free tonight?"

While I wait on Alica, My personal assistant I flip on the TV and watch the news coverage. Superman, Power Man, Flash and that handsome devil known as the Green Arrow are all over the news. Alica walks in five minutes later.

"Okay Ollie, This quarter report says Queen Tech made 2.5 billion dollars this quarter, Just ahead of Lexcorp and Wayne Enterprises both of whom came in at 2 billion. Stark Industries only recorded 900 million."

I let a small smile escape.

"Melissa Angel said that she would love to come, as soon as she get's done with her Victoria Secret fashion shoot."

"Good, I feel like celebrating. Put some 72' Chateau Mounton on ice and get me a scotch and soda. Also give yourself a raise, Whatever you think is fair my dear girl friday."

As she walks out the room I can't help but smile.

It's good to be the king.

 

[Andy C.]

I look up, as something blocks the sun above me. A craft. The same one that I took Power Man to. Maybe they can get him to safety. Not wasting the time to give it a second thought, I fly up to the craft, and to the top. Spotting a door, I land, and rush Flash inside. It only takes me a second to realise that the door was actually locked, but I don't care. A man's life is in danger. A hero's life is in danger.

"Hello?! Is anyone there?! This man needs medical assistance! Fast!"

An alarm sounded throughout the ship; the HeliCarrier's security had been breached. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents scrambled towards Superman's position, arms at the ready. It was more out of reflex than panic, and when they caught sight of the Kryptonian, most of them simply stood down.

"Easy now, boys. The big guy is right," said the voice of Colonel Fury over the ship's intercom. "I want a decontamination crew ready in the infirmary for Flash and Superman. Once the two of them are cleaned up, have them prepared for debriefing and transportation back to the States."

Fury switched off the intercom, and paced restlessly back and forth. Superman could easily bring down this whole vessel with his bare hands if he wanted to, so it was vital that he played his cards right. After all, what's the polite way to address someone who just had a nuclear bomb dropped on them? How would Superman react when he found out it was Fury who ordered it?

Only one way to find out.

The Colonel put out his cigarette, and after taking a short pause to collect himself, stepped out of the bridge and began to make his way to the infirmary, to address two people who were greater heroes than he'd ever been.

 

[Andy C.]

Information Collection Stage Complete. Initiating Second Stage: Locate Compatible Host Organism.

Somewhere above the Atlantic, the black ooze that had taken control of General Zod was reforming, coagulating into a spherical orb. It pulsed with energy, and tendrils began to grow out of it as the myriad of nanomachines emitted signals across the world.

Possible Subject Located
Species: Homo Sapiens
Name: Victor Von Doom
Intellect: 7th Level
Telepathic Compatibility: None
Resistance Level: High
Conclusion: Incompatible
Assimilate Technology and Resources, then Delete

As the energy flickered along the orb's surface, the nanomachines reached out, observing first-hand and leeching information off of the internet as it scanned billions of life-forms.

Possible Subject Located
Species: Unknown, mutant variation of Homo Sapiens
Name: Charles Xavier
Intellect: 7th Level
Telepathic Compatibility: Optimum
Resistance Level: High
WARNING: MULTIPLE HOSTILE ELEMENTS IN PROXIMITY: PROBABILITY OF IDENTITY COMPROMISE 83%
Conclusion: Secondary Objective
Delete Hostile Elements once Host is Found, then Assimilate Objective

Time and time again, it picked up on a possible subject, only to reject it.

Possible Subject Located
Species: Homo Sapiens
Name: Lex Luthor
Intellect: 8th Level
Telepathic Compatibility: None
Resistance Level: High
Conclusion: Secondary Objective
Attain Contact, Assimilate Technology and Resources, then Merge Programming

Until finally, it found a match.

Possible Subject Located
Species: Homo Sapiens
Name: Milton Fine
Intellect: 6th Level
Telepathic Compatibility: Optimum
Resistance Level: Low
Conclusion: Compatible Host Found
Merge Programming Immediately

A split-second later, the orb was shooting across the sky at blinding speed, approaching land, approaching its target.

---------------------------------

On board the HeliCarrier, Colonel Fury stepped through the door of the infirmary. Men in haz-mat suits were getting Flash out of his irradiated safety gear, and moving him into a decontamination unit. Meanwhile, a seperate team was going over Superman with a Geiger counter as the Kryptonian looked around impatiently.

Even after all he had seen and done, Fury was still taken aback by Superman. The man just had a presence about him, something he hadn't felt since way back when, the first time he had met Captain America. Since those days, the Colonel had seen countless heroes come and go, but this guy....this Superman was something else entirely.

Fury approached the man in blue, amazed that he was even still alive, let alone fully conscious. He cleared his throat, then spoke.

"Flash is going to be fine, Superman; the men taking care of him are the very best, and they've cured a lot weaker people from a lot worse. You did one hell of a job today, Superman. Considering what you just survived, I'm not sure if I should be relieved or terrified. Still, damn good work."

Fury nodded approvingly, inside still more than a little nervous. That's it; just keep your words nice and clean. Then when he finds out about the nuke, maybe he'll decide not to kill us all...