Legends of Superman #2

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Legends of Superman #2
Child's Play
Part 1
The Toyman Cometh

Written and Edited by Daniel Dyer

"I’ll take it,” Clark says as he talks with a real estate agent. He signs the paperwork, before the agent leaves him alone. Looking around, Clark thinks, This’ll be perfect for me. Convenient to work and... looking up at the skylight, other activities.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Mom, I want one!” says a young boy as he sees the last of a doll on the shelf of a small toy store.

“I don’t know, Chris. It’s awfully expensive for a toy,” a reluctant mom tells her son.

“But, Mom, it’s not just a toy. It talks and everything! See?” pushing a button on the doll’s foot.

“Hi, I’m Scott, wanna be friends?” says the doll.

“I’m Chris. Wanna play?”

“Oh, I sure hope we can.”

“Voice activated? But still...”

“That there’s one of a kind, Miss,” says a sales clerk. “It’s our one and only.”

“Really?”

“Please, Mommy?”

“Well....”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

A week later, as Clark and Jimmy wait in the office of Ryan Bache. Clark had been assigned to interview the head of Bache Toy Manufacturers regarding the disappearance of his business partner, Winslow Schott, who’s love of toys and bringing joy to children has earned him the nickname, Toyman.

“Do you really think Bache knows anything, C.K.?”

“I don’t know, Jimmy. It does seem like Mr. Bache has made a benefit from his partner’s disappearance. He’s in control of all of Schott’s patents, he’s now running Schott’s toy store, ‘Toyman’s Play House.’ Who knows what Bache’s roll in...” seeing Ryan’s office door open, Clark decides not to finish his thought.

“Now, Chris, take your...doll, and go home.”

“But dad...”

“He’s right,” Clark hears with his enhanced hearing. Who?

“Ah, Mr. Kent. Welcome.”

Standing up, Clark shakes Bache’s hand, “Thank you, Mr. Bache,” and following Ryan into his office, with Jimmy.

“Well, Mr. Kent. I don’t mean to be a problem, but I really haven’t got a clue to where Winslow has disappeared to.”

Hearing Bache’s increased heartbeat, I’m certain, Clark thinks rather sarcastically. “Maybe, Sir, but do you know of enemies Mr. Schott might have had?”

“Enemies? I don’t think so. Winslow isn’t the type to make enemies. Everyone who knew him all thought he was the sweetest man to every live. He lived his life, wanting to make kids happy. Who could hate someone like that?”

“Do you know of any reason he’d just leave?”

“You must understand, Mr. Kent, Winslow was a very private person. I was probably his closest friend and I don’t know too much about him.”

He’s awfully free with using the past tense. “May we look through his office.”

“Certainly. Right this...” opening the door, he sees a huge T-Rex smashing through the outer wall. “Oh, my God.”

“Jimmy, stay out of the way of that thing. I’m going to try to find out what it is.”

“I dunno what it is but I thought it was extinct," getting closer, snapping pictures. If ever there was a job for Superman, this is it.

Just then, as if on cue, Superman flies on to the scene. “All right, everyone. Please try to clear out. I’ll take care of Dino, here,” using his X-ray vision on the monster. Mechanical? I can deal with that, if the workers would clear out. They’re sticking around to watch. I can’t risk them getting hurt.

And with that, the monster whip’s its tail, hitting Big Blue, knocking him through a wall.

“Ugh.” Okay, idea. Time to go up, up.... flying straight at the mechanical beast, lifting it up, crashing it through the ceiling, “And away!” The enormous beast, thrashing as the Man of Steel lifts it skyward. “Hold still,” Superman says just as he punches through the machine’s hide and rips out any cables which look important, deactivating the behemoth.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Having brought the mechanical T-Rex back down for the police, Superman is approached by Bache.

“Impressive. Simply impressive.”

“Sorry about your ceiling. I had to get that thing out of there and quick. I’ll help in the repairs in anyway I can.”

“Thank you, thank you. Your offer is much appreciated.”

“Superman! Superman!” Jimmy yells as he runs up to them.

“Yes?”

“That was awesome! You are great man!”

“Thank you... I have to go. I’ll be by tomorrow, Mr. Bache.” Turning to Jimmy, “See you around, kid.”

As Big Blue flies off, a computer screen flashes digital eyes and in an instant they vanish, replaced by the words “Kal-El found.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

As Jimmy is about to exit an elevator in the Daily Planet, Lois rushes in, pushing a button closing the doors. “Lois...?”

“Clark and you are back from the interview with Bache?”

“Yes. Well, I am. CK went to follow another lead.”

“Good,” says Lois as they reach the lobby. “Obviously, Bache is into something here. That giant machine attacked his place for a reason.”

“Gee, Jimmy, I’m ever so glad you’re safe,” Jimmy says sarcastically to himself.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Scott, are you sure we should be doing this?” Chris Bache asks his doll. “He’s my dad.”

“Your dad’s a bad man,” announces the doll as it stands up right. The doll, now has more... life-like features. Its skin tone, its completion, its hair and especially, it’s eyes. “He killed... my creator. He killed the Toyman. All the Toyman ever did was want to bring joy to kids like you and your dad, he slaughtered him. We have to do this, right...” getting cut off by the doorbell. “Hmmm?” going over to the door to Chris’s room, peeking out, Chris fallowing, seeing his dad answer the door.

“Lois Lane, Daily Planet. A few words, Mr. Bache,” pushing her way in the door, followed by Jimmy.

“But... I’ve already been interviewed for the Planet...”

“Of course, but not by me.”

Shutting the door, Scott paces the room, “Damn it. Guess we’ll have to take them as well.”

“Scott... what did they do?”

Turning to the boy, sneering, “They showed up!”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Hello?” Clark says as he enters the deserted Toyman’s Play House. “Anyone here?”

“We’re closed, Mr...” a clerk says as he comes out.

“Kent. Clark Kent."

“Must have forgot to lock the door.”

“I’m not a costumer. I’m a reporter for the Daily Planet. I’m here about Mr. Schott’s disappearance.”

“Disappearance. You mean he ain’t dead?”

“Dead?”

“Yeah, that Bache guy killed him. Everyone knows it.”

“Were you a witness?”

“No. I wasn’t the witness.”

“There was a witness though?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Miss Lane, I really can’t tell you anything. Winslow was my partner, but outside of business we were strangers.”

Chris, whispering to Scott as they sneak into the family room, “Scott, they didn’t do anything.”

“Chris, you’re either with me,” turning to glare at Chris, “or against me. Think quickly, now.”

“W... with you...”

“Good, boy,” Scott says as he sneaks up behind Ryan Bache, while Chris is sneaking up behind Lois and Jimmy.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Is there a witness, or isn’t there?”

“Who knows? Maybe, maybe not, but surely you can find the answers you seek at Bache’s... or at least you'll find his corpse.”

“Corpse? What?”

But without receiving an answer, the clerk fades, as if from existence.

“Where?”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Lexcorp Tower, as John Henry is in his office, speaking on his phone.

“Yes, I’ve sent it out. You’ll get the money within the week. Yeah? She does? Well, tell Nat I miss her too, Grandma,” hanging up the phone.

“Human emotion. Utter weakness,” says an electronic voice.

“Huh? Who’s there?” John asks as he suddenly sees a hologram of a small orb floating in his office.

“I’m an artificial intellect beyond measure on your world. My own world named me Brainiac. I’m here to ease your troubles with your ‘Superman.’ Shall we talk?”

To be continued...