Man of Steel

Time:	10:04 pm.
Mood:	alive.

Clark made his way into the elevators of the Daily Planet building. After leaving the fortress he made his way here. Superman had been gone for several weeks.

Which means Clark Kent was gone for that long as well.

He didn't spend a lot of time coming up with a reasonable excuse for being gone. On his way flying back, an idea did occur to him how he could survive and return.

Amnesia and hospitals would be out. The only way he could pull it off is knowing someone who he could trust with his secret. And in this world, outside of his mother, only Lacey knew the truth.

The doors pinged open and Clark stepped through.

Everyone was going about their daily routines in the bullpen. He adjusted his glasses and took a few steps before bumping into someone.

"Hey watch it," the guy said without looking up from his file.

"Sorry," he apologized.

He made his way to his desk that was now empty. Guess this is what happens when you vanish off the face of the earth for almost two months.

"Oh my gosh! Mr. Kent!"

Clark turned around before before being 'attacked' by a Jimmy hug. "We thought you were dead. I mean with all the devastation from Doomsday, no one knew what happened to you. We were so worried, but you're alive!!"

"Jimmy. Can't breathe," Clark fake gasped. Jimmy let go and aplogized.

"Sorry Mr. Kent. We were just really worried about you."

"I see that," Clark said looking at his cleared off desk.

"You know Mr. White. He did have us wait a month before clearing your stuff out. Just in case we made any new hires. All your stuff is still here. Packed it myself. Its in the supply closet. Knew you'd be back," he said with a big smile.

"Clark?!"

He looked up and it was Lois.

"Oh my god! You're alive!"

She ran and gave him a hug. "What the heck happened to you?!," she asked letting go of him.

Always the intrepid reporter.

"Yes. I think everyone would love to here this engaging story," Perry White said joining the group that was starting to form around him.

"W-well," Clark said adjusting his glasses and clearing his throat nervously. "When Doomsday showed up I was getting some crowd reactions. For a story. Superman and Doomsday crashed through a building I was near so I ran for cover. Found a basement cover and went in and it turned out to be some kind of old fallout shelter. I only thought I'd be down there an hour or so, until Superman and Doomsday moved the fight further into the city. But I guess their fight led to part of a building falling on top of the cover. Was trapped down there until I was dug out by an emergency crew. They checked me out. I'm fine. The rations in the shelter were still good to eat. Kept myself alive until then."

"See, now that's a reporter," Perry said proudly. "I want you to write up a story on your time there as soon as possible. Everyone else...back to work. We have a paper to put out! Let's go people!"

"Uh, Mr. White..." Clark said bumbling his way through the dispersed crowd. "Sir...If it's okay with you, I'd just like to put that entire incident behind me. I know having a first hand account would be newsworthy, but I'm still kind of getting over it."

"Kent. You're a damn fine reporter. Only reason I still kept that desk open was because Lois and your girlfriend held out hope for you still being alive. I understand what you went through was probably tough, but I'm asking you to set it aside for the good of the paper."

"Chief...I just can't. I can't write about it. Being alone with no way to reach anyone, trapped with no way out. I just want to forget that trauma and move on."

"Fine Kent. I'll let it go...for now." He turned and headed back into his office. "Oh, and Kent two things. Remember to call your mother and Lacey will be back from errands soon."

Clark quirked his eyebrow. "Just thought you'd want to know," Perry said with a smile.

With a sigh, he made his way back to his desk. Jimmy had returned with his box and started helping him sort his desk back to the way it was.

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Subject:	Superman Returns
Time:	9:31 pm.

Fortress of Solitude
April 17, 2011

The death of Superman was felt all over the world. Most notably, in the fortress.

Jor-El may have been merely a computer of sorts. Set to answer all of Kal-El’s questions and give him guidance when he needed it.

But the Kryptonian technology was so much more. Jor-El was a part of the Fortress, and when his son fell in battle with Doomsday, it went dark when the Man of Steel’s heart stopped.

A father’s only hope is that their son grows into a man they can be proud of. When Kal-El became Superman, Jor-El was proud of his son. He became a light in the darkness that was beginning to cover the earth.

And when he died protecting the world from a monster who’s only directive was to maim, kill, and destroy…he had proven to be more of a hero than he could have ever thought possible.

The image of Jor-El’s face appeared in the Fortress one last time, “Farwell, my son.”

Unknown

Clark awoke laying in the grass. His eyes fluttered open taking in the sunlight. He sat up and was surprised he didn’t wince. He had gone through a lot in that battle with Doomsday. But when he looked around, he wasn’t in Metropolis.

He was back on the farm in Kansas.

Sitting up he ran into the house, but there was no sign of life. His mom’s dog wasn’t there, so sound of his mother. The clocks weren’t even ticking. Everything was quiet and frozen in time.

Clark went back outside and saw a familiar sight. One he never thought he’d see again emerging from the corn field.

His father.

“Dad?”

“Hi son.”

Clark pulled his father into a huge hug. He didn’t know if he was dreaming or what, but he didn’t care. It just felt great to be holding his father again. It eased a pain in him that had been there since his father died.

“I’ve been watching you Clark. I’ve seen what you’ve become. And words can’t express how proud I am of you. No father could be prouder.”

“Am I dead,” Clark asked. “I mean, you died, and I’m here…”

“Your fight with Doomsday did take all your strength. And your heart has stopped.”

“So, I’m dead…”

“You’ve played your part son. You’ve more than earned some time to yourself.”

“But the world needs me…Lacey.”

Oh crap…Lacey. She was one of the strongest women he knew. But he didn’t know what losing him would do to her. She had warmed up a bit. Was Lacey, but at the same time, a different Lacey.

He had been there for her since rescuing her a couple years ago.

“I have to get back to her,” Clark said. “I’m not ready yet. It’s not my time. How do I get back?”

“You can’t son. You may have had powers beyond that of mortal men, but that time has passed. You’re here now. And there’s nothing that you can do to get back. Just enjoy the time you have here.”

“But…”

“I know you want to get back to your girl. To the world you had to leave behind. But they’ll move on. It’s what life is. It’s about moments. Good and bad, all making us who we are.”

Jonathon squeezed his son’s shoulder. “Just like after I died, you moved on. But you still carry me with you, as the people of the world will with you.”

He led his son to the porch where they sat on the bench that was out there. “You’re here to ease the transition, aren’t you,” Clark asked.

His father nodded. “We have some time. Tell me about this girl of yours…Lacey? I thought you had a thing for that reporter Lois. Don’t you have a son with her?”

“That’s…complicated. But as for Lacey, she’s…she’s very special to me,” he replied with a small smile forming. “We met at a nexus café…”

Three weeks later…

*THUMP THUMP*

The fortress began to light up once more as Jor-El reappeared feeling his son’s hearbeat. It was faint, but he felt it. It meant what he had hoped.

That his body had to shut down to heal properly. Now, he could bring his son back to the Fortress.

Metropolis
Superman’s Memorial

Inside his coffin, Superman…Clark to those who knew him best lay unmoving. No life or breath.

Suddenly, the crest of his family he adorned on chest began to glow. The light pierced out of the coffin and filled the room before disappearing.

Along with Superman’s body.

Fortress of Solitude…

Using the technology in the Fortress, Jor-El put his son in a liquid chamber monitoring his vitals. A heartbeat finally appearing, but far and further apart. It would take time for him to return to normal.

For now, he waited for his son’s eyes to open. For his son to return to him.

Unknown…

“Sounds like she’s quite the handful Clark,” Jonathan Kent chuckled as his son finished telling him everything about Lacey.

“She is. She’s…something,” Clark said with a wistful smile. “But that’s what makes Lacey...Lacey.”

“You love her don’t you son?”

Clark nodded. “She’s smart, strong willed, funny. Yeah, she’s not the easiest person to talk to sometimes because she’s not ‘feely’. But she has her moments when that big wall comes down some.”

Suddenly the ground started to rumble. The sun suddenly got brighter enveloping the entire farm in white light. Clark shielded his eyes from the light.

“What’s going on dad?”

“It’s time son.”

“Time for what?”

“You’ll see soon enough,” his father said as he slowly disappeared.

“What’s going on?!!”

He shut his eyes as the bright light was now too much for his eyes. As the light dimmed, he opened his eyes and saw his biological father Jor-El standing in front of him. He was slightly dazed, but as his eyes adjusted, he realized he was back in the Fortress and he was lying on a table.

“Welcome back Kal-El.”

“What happened,” he said hoarsely.

“You’ve been through a lot these past several weeks Kal-El. You saved the world from an unstoppable foe. It took all your strength to stop him. And you paid a price for it.”

“I died?”

“In a way. You’re body had to shut down in order to heal itself. While you were in a sense dead, you didn’t die. I had to wait until your heart beat a second time to locate you to bring you back to the Fortress. Embedded in your Kryptonian outfit was micro technology that was able to sense your bio-rhythms and bring you here when the time was right. After several weeks, you are finally awake.”

Clark tried to sit up, but was too weak to sit up.

“Rest my son, it will take time for you to gather your strength to return.”

“I need to get back…Lacey, she’s probably…” he honestly didn’t know how she was reacting to his death. But he knew it wasn’t good. “I just need to get back.”

“Give it time my son. When you are ready to return, with all your powers as they once were, you will be able to go back. Until then, you will rest and recuperate here.”

Clark wanted to protest, but he barely had the energy to make it to his bed. As Clark dozed off, Jor-El dimmed the lights of the Fortress. “Sleep well my son. You’re training will begin tomorrow.”

The Next Day…

Clark woke up feeling a lot stronger than he did yesterday. Death took a lot out of him. But now, he was back and feeling stronger.

Though, he still wasn’t one hundred percent just yet. Over the course of the next few weeks, he trained and honed his powers. Pushing himself further than he did before. Increasing his powers and abilities further than they were before.

Until it was time…

He stood at the console in his Superman outfit once again. Staring up at his father.

“You have come far Kal-El. You gave your life to protect the world from an unstoppable monster. Brought back from the brink of death, to bring yourself to become the hero you were before. A father could not be prouder. I have anticipated so much, and you have exceeded my expectations.”

“Thank you father.”

“Go Kal-El…return to your destiny anew. Be the man your mother and I always hoped you’d become.”

As Jor-El faded away, Superman looked up to the skies. The stars sparkling in the night sky. He closed his eyes feeling an inner peace.

Taking a deep breath, he braced himself and leapt into the sky and flew out of the Fortress.

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Subject:	The Death of Superman...
Time:	11:52 am.

Back at The Daily Planet…

Perry paced his office as he watched the news reports on Superman’s epic battle with Doomsday. Even the news anchors were worried that Superman couldn’t stop Doomsday.

He stepped outside, looking around for Lacey.

“Richard, where’s Lacey?”

“She ran out a while ago,” Cat answered for him. “She looked worried. Think its this whole Superman battle.”

“The destructive force known as Doomsday, who has left hundreds injured, and several dead appears to be crossing from Ohio towards New York. We believe that the creature is on a direct course towards the city of Metropolis,” the news anchor on the monitor in the bullpen said.

Perry turned to Richard. “I want you to get to the helipad, I’m going to call Lois. I want you two on this story now.”

“Yes sir,” Richard said grabbing his coat and running out of the bullpen.

“This is going to be the biggest story of year. Maybe the century,” Perry mused aloud as he headed to his office and called Lois cell phone.

“Lane here.”

“Lois. Have you and Jimmy left yet?”

“No. Still stuck in line at the airport.”

“Stay there. I’m sending Richard. You and Olson are getting a ride on the Planet’s helicopter to get the story.”

“Yes sir.” Lois replied. She held the composure of an ace reporter. But truth be told, she was terrified of this situation. She was part of the Superman story since he flew into town.

Now, with the way this fight she was going…the last thing she wanted was for this to be the last Superman save story she ever did.

“Jimmy, change of plans…”

Outside New York State…

Superman kept trying to stop Doomsday. It leaped from its place in the river taking out a missile carrying helicopter. After hurling a missile at Doomsday and saving the two pilots, he went back to work.

The missile did nothing more than tear the clothing the creature was wearing. Its true form was beginning to show. By the looks it was grey, bone shards poking out from its body, and a mean face to boot.

Soon after the pilots were safe, Superman went after Doomsday. Using his speed and strength, he landed on top of Doomsday crushing him into the ground. But that didn’t help much.

It clawed its way out of the ground, grabbing Superman and tossing him.

“This thing is getting stronger,” Superman thought.

He did his best to keep the creature at bay. Punch for punch. Kick for kick. Blow for blow, this creature would not let up. It was like it was adjusting to his every move. This creature was strong and smart.

The two fought in an old gas station, after a large explosion, Superman was left dazed for a moment. As he stood, Doomsday was gone.

“Damn,” he muttered under his breath as he tried to stand. He shook his head trying to regain his composure. Thoughts of his life floating in his head. His parents…Lacey.

If he failed to stop Doomsday, he’d fail them. And he would not fail them. He would stop Doomsday if it’s the last thing he did.

He flew into the air and followed the path of destruction as he zeroed in on Doomsday.

The more he fought, the more Doomsday seemed to like it. And he seemed to keep getting stronger with every blow.

The two landed with a giant thud that cracked the earth in front of a sign METROPOLIS 50 MILES.

Doomsday laughed and with a backhand sent Superman flying as he lept into the air heading to the city.

Doomsday landed in a construction site and started beginning his reign of terror inside the city.

Up in the sky, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olson watched from the air as the creature began destroying and killing. Jimmy Taking as many photos as he could.

“Lois look,” Jimmy shouted. She turned as she saw a red-blue blur fly past the Daily Planet helicopter and smash into Doomsday.

“It ends here,” Superman told the monster.

He flew up trying to bring the creature into the vaccum of space, hoping that would do something. But Doomsday was squirming and slipped from his grasp. With a hard kick, Doomsday sent Superman flying into a construction site as he fell back down to earth.

As he landed, the Metropolis SWAT Team was there, ready to blast him with everything they had. But it didn’t help. It came running towards them ready to slaughter them all where they stood.

Superman ran at super-speed punching him in the chin, cracking some of the bone extensions on its chin as Doomsday slashed him with his fist claws.

Doomsday picked up Superman and threw him into the sky crashing into the Daily Planet helicopter. But before it could go down, Superman lifted it and brought it to the ground. He wanted to get them far away from the destruction of Doomsday as possible, but there was no telling the amount of death and destruction that would occur if he left…even if for a few moments.

“Superman, maybe you should retreat and get some help. He’s pretty unstoppable. And I don’t…”

She wiped the tears that were falling. “We don’t want to lose you.”

He knew what she meant by that. And it hurt even more, knowing what he was going to do next. What he had to do.

“I HAVE to do this Lois. No one else can stop him but me. Just remember, whatever happens…”

He leans and kisses her forehead. He wouldn’t say that he’d always love her. A part of him always would, but in the context he wanted to use it, to say it…that was for Lacey. And he had no clue where she was. Another fact that scared him. He just hoped she was somewhere safe through all of this.

“But now…” Superman turned around with an angry look on his face, with his fists clenched tightly. “Doomsday goes down.”

In a giant woosh, he takes off to take down Doomsday. Even if he had to die to do it.

He smashes into Doomsday knocking him through a building and landing in the middle of the street. Slightly dazed, Doomsday took this moment of weakness to attack.

He took Superman and pounded his head into the street until he was buried underneath. A force that made the ground crack and lift up around them.

As the creature turned around and went after more people, Superman pounded his fist into the air and leaped out of the ground. With a swift punch to the back, Doomsday screamed in pain.

His costume was torn and tattered. As he stepped closer his cape fell to the ground, torn. Once again he focused all his power into his heat vision and blasted Doomsday.

But it didn’t slow him down. He sliced into Superman’s skin again with a sharp bone extention.

He was barely staying conscious in this fight. He broke the extended bone figuring it was part of his skeleton, finally managing to really hurt the creature.

Superman was exhausted. He had given everything he had in this fight…and there wasn’t much left in him. But still, the Man of Steel kept going. Fighting until one of them fell.

For the city, for his friends, for Lacey…he was not about to give up. He would put Doomsday down once and for all.

The spectators that watched could almost feel the shockwaves of each punch. Of every blow. Windows from The Daily Planet and surrounding buildings fractured tumbling to the ground as the fight raged on.

As Lois watched memories of the man who had saved her time and time again flowed through her mind. The love they had once shared. The son they did share.

Young Jason, safe at home with the babysitter, watched on TV as Superman fought the creature. A tear rolling down his face, worried about his friend.

Half way across the country, Martha Kent sat watching as well with Ben Hubard. The old woman was in crying for her son. The boy she and Jonathon Kent found in a field and raised as their own. Teaching him the moral lessons he used and shared as Superman.

The bullpen of The Daily Planet stood frozen watching the screen. Doomsday plowing into Superman, cutting him with his bone extentions.

Jimmy snapped photos of his friend. His pal. The man he looked up to.

The final blows sent out another shockwave throughout the square.

“It…can’t end like this,” an onlooker said whispering. “It just can’t.”

Doomsday fell on top of the rubble their fight had caused…dead.

Superman, exhausted from everything, fell as well. Consciousness slowly fading.

Lois went to him and held him close. “Stay with us Superman. The ambulance is on its way.”

“Doomsday…is…he….”

“You did it. You stopped him. You saved us all.”

He felt his heart rate slowing down. Slower and Slower.

In his daze, he thought he saw Lacey standing just behind Lois.

“I…love…..” he said tiredly trying to get out I love you.

But it was too late. He wouldn’t be able to get out those words.

There are moments that change the world. There are moments that are remembered forever. From the JFK assassination, to the moon landing, to 9-11.

Moments embedded in our minds forever.

This was one of those moments.

Today was the day, that Superman died.

The End?

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Subject:	The Death of Superman...
Time:	8:02 pm.

The elevator doors ding and an exhausted Clark Kent walks through the doors.

For the better part of a month, Clark was in Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. As both Superman and reporter Clark Kent.

As Clark Kent, he was doing field reporting.
As Superman, saving people, helping rebuild, and averting nuclear metldowns.

Both kept him extremely busy over the last week.

Clark sat down sadly in his chair. He wouldn’t trade what he did for anything, but when things like this happened, he was constantly reminded of a lesson his father Jor-El taught him.

You can’t save everyone.

But despite it all, he still tried. The screams and calls for help were almost deafening.

He saved untold amounts of people and was able to avert possible nuclear disasters.

“How was your trip Clark,” Richard asked as he walked up.

“Harrowing experience. You really come out of something like that with such an appreciation for life.”

“Well, your articles were fantastic,” Richard replied. “Think Lois might have some competition for a Pulitzer this year.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, it’s still early in the year. I’m sure Lois will whip up something to top my Japan earthquake stories. And she will try,” Clark said with a smile. Lois was insatiable when it came to that kind of stuff.

“Well, we’re glad you’re back.”

With a stretch Clark went to work on his next article.

Somewhere in the Mid-West…

*CLANG*

*CLANG*

*CLANG*

*KRAAKK!!!*
*KRAAK!!!!*
In the middle of a beautiful field, the creature explodes out of the ground. Free after thousands of years in the ground.

It marveled at the sight around him. He reached his hand out as a tiny bird flew towards him, landing in his palm.

As it cheeped, the creature crushed it in his bare hand. Laughing.

“HAH HA HA HA HAAA!”

Back at the Planet…

Clark handed in his last story in the series for the Japan earthquakes told from his personal perspective. There’d be occasional stories from here on out, but it’d be updates.

“Very good. Good work Kent,” Perry said as he finished reading.

“Thanks Chief,” Clark said adjusting his glasses.

Stepping out of the chief’s office, Clark turned towards Lacey’s desk. She wasn’t in yet. Glancing at his watch he noticed it was after ten in the morning.

“Always fashionably late,” Clark said smiling to himself as he headed back to his desk.

“Hey check it out,” one of the cub reporters said getting the bullpen’s attention on one of the television monitors.

“This just in, a mid-west town is being destroyed by a very large creature. It arrived only a few moments ago,” the reporter said before cutting to live footage of a giant creature in a green body suit, covering its entire body with dark red goggles.

It punched the front of a semi and threw it like a tin can into a gas station exploding with a huge bang and ball of fire.

The camera was far away and at a safe distance but with his super-hearing Clark heard something strange.

The creature was laughing.

“Alright everyone,” Perry said in his authoritative voice. “Jenkins, get on the line with Pentagon, see if they have any idea what’s going on and how they’re handling the situation. Lois…”

“Yes,” she said waiting for instructions.

“I want you out on the next flight out. I want an exclusive on this thing. Tomorrow, I want that things face on the front page. Olson, you’re with Lois.”

“Yes, Chief,” the young man said nervously.

Lois grabbed her purse and headed out.

As everyone was dealing with their assignments Clark headed towards the supply closet. He loosened his tie, and started to take off his glasses when Jimmy walked in.

“Mr. Kent…what are you doing in here?”

He looked at the open window next to him. “Uh, getting some fresh air.”

“Oh, okay…” Jimmy said. “Miss Lane forgot her pen and pad.” Jimmy grabbed the supplies and started to head out.

“Jimmy,” Clark said stopping him. He turned around. “Be careful out there. That thing looks pretty tough.”

“Probably not as tough as Superman though. Wonder if he knows what’s going on out there?”

“I’m sure he does Jimmy,” Clark said assuring the young man.

Jimmy leaves the supply room leaving Clark alone in the room once again. With a deep breath, he changed into his Superman outfit and flew out the window.

LexOil Ohio Refinery…

The creature continued its reign of terror through the mid-west. Not even the National Guard was able to slow him down.

Superman arrived on the scene, trying to help the Guard members that actually survived. One young man, who couldn’t have been more than 20 years old was coughing up blood.

“Help is here. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“Its here,” he choked out.

“What is….what is that thing?”

The young man uttered the last word he would ever say. With his dying breath he looked into Superman’s eyes and said, “…Doomsday…” With a gasp and took his last breath and died.

Superman clenched his fist, anger and fury burning inside of him.

He looked ahead at this Doomsday as it headed into the Refinery before an explosion took down the whole thing.

“Superman,” a weak voice said.

He looked and saw the commander of the Guard. “Housing development. Over the hill. Can’t let him get there.”

Superman used his x-ray vision to look through the fire and smoke. The creature was still going. No signs of stopping. He flew ahead hoping to get the drop on him before he could reach civilization.

A teenager was inside his house where his mother was feeding the baby, arguing with her.

“I’m tired of that baby being the only thing that rates around here!”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t keep up with everything here. I know this house isn’t perfect, and neither am I. But I’m doing the best I can.”

“No wonder dad left and wants a divorce,” he said coldly.

He grabbed the car keys and headed outside.

“Wait…did you hear that?”

CRASH

The mom ran outside and saw the teenager at the doorway frozen. Doomsday holding their car with its bare fist and one hand behind its back.

“Whoa!”

The creature Doomsday turned its head as Superman landed on the scene.

“What was it that soldier called him? Oh, yeah. Doomsday.”

The creature ran towards him and punched him in the chest, unscathing Superman. With a roar, it turned and kicked him in the stomach launching him through the house bringing the house down as Superman crashed into a tree.

As Doomsday made its way towards the mom and kids Superman ran at him at super-speed and knocked him away from them.

“GET OUT OF HERE,” he ordered them.

As they ran away, Superman dug deep deep down and used his heat vision to see if that would do anything to the creature.

The smoke died down after he stopped. With a roar it stood up.

Superman blinked in surprise. All that and it still didn’t miss a beat. It moved at an incredible speed punching Superman sending him flying across the way.

Doomsday leapt into the air.

Superman shook off the daze he had noticing Doomsday soaring away with his mighty jump.

“No. No way is he getting away from me!”

He flew in pursuit. Getting closer and closer. With each punch, a boom sounds throughout the skies. Doomsday just takes them, not bothering him at all. Doomsday gave a few punches of his own.

Superman grabbed its throat and flew down into the sea and imbedded him into the rock below. Landing on the shore, Superman takes a moment to breath. Taking in the sun’s energy to replenish what he had lost in the giant fight.

That thing was impossibly strong. And it probably wouldn’t stay down there long. A scary thought began to occur to Superman.

What if he couldn’t stop this thing?

End Part 1

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