Legends of Superman #9

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Legends of Superman #9
Lightning Strikes

Written by Romeo Dantes
edited by Daniel Dyer

12 Years Ago...

I come from the planet Krypton. I have come to end the evil that has come to your planet.” A young man says to the people of Mkt. All they've ever known on their planet has been peace, but recently a mysterious race has laid waste to many of the growing cities on the planet. This stranger is dressed in a blue that almost blends into the night sky, with a crimson stripe down the middle. A stylized “S” in front of a yellow shield can also be made out on the chest of this self-proclaimed hero.

“The people who have been invading your planet are from the planet Colu. I've encountered these beings many times.” The strange visitor explains to the people of Mkt. Kzzmt stands behind her father, Rnz, as she looks upon the floating man. “They are relentless, and they will destroy everything. I can help to evacuate your people but I need access to your archives. I must know if there is anything I must keep out of Coluan hands.”

An explosion rocks the Council's hall. Three figures float into the room. Their light blue flesh shines in the flames that litter the hall. Three red nodes protrude from their bald heads. They immediately strike for the stranger. Two of the attackers are destroyed as the strangers fists crush their robotic skulls. The third flees through the ceiling. Debris falls. Kzzmt stares up as a large piece descends upon her. Her eyes close. She expects to be crushed under the debris, but opens her eyes to find that the stranger is holding the rock above his head. “Move child.”

Kzzmt's father runs up to the stranger as he is placing the rock down safely, “You have saved my daughter. You must speak the truth. Follow me. I will take you to the archives. The rest of the council will gather our people to evacuate.”

The stranger follows Rnz down into the lowest depths under the hall. They follow a glowing line down a spiraling path. At the end of the path are a pair of giant doors. Rnz kneels down and touches the glowing line and reaches his other hand toward the door. Electricity travels between the two as the doors part. “In there...” The stranger reaches out and grabs Rnz by the face. Rnz eyes widen in fear as he feels his head give way. The elder's body slumps to the ground as Kzzmt looks on from the shadows.

<“Superman....”>

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Leslie awoke in her own apartment as though from a nightmare, “Superman! It was Superman... that girl: she was warning us about Superman.” Leslie rose from her bed realizing she had no idea how she'd gotten back to her apartment. With further concentration she realized she couldn't remember anything after the girl appearing.

She began to walk to her bathroom. Passing her TV, it suddenly turned on. “What the...?” she asked as she turned it off. She walked into the bathroom and immediately took note of her own reflection. Her fair complexion was gone. She was as pale as a ghost. Her shoulder-length brown hair was now short and blue. Her clothes were now singed rags. But the most notable change was her eyes. They now glowed a dim light blue color. She jumped back afraid of what had happened. Suddenly the light bulbs flashed and exploded. Her hair dryer began humming. She could hear the TV turn on again as well as the radio. She slowly stepped forward. She picked up the hair dryer. As she raised it in the air, the cord fell from the counter. Leslie began to realize what had happened when the girl touched her as she looked at the plug dangling near her feet. She placed down the hair dryer as it turned off. “Well, then... what else can I do?” Leslie uttered to herself as she concentrated. The radio and faded off to silence. She stepped out onto the fire escape. She pointed to nearest street lamp. A blue bolt of lightning quickly shot from her fingers and struck the lamp. Glass and embers rained down upon the passers-by as they rushed away from the exploding light. “Well, this ought to be interesting,” a smirk crawled across Leslie's face.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Find Superman or else pretty little Ms. Lane's face is gonna get flash fried!” Leslie Willis yelled out to the Daily Planet bullpen as she held Lois by the throat.

“Leslie, calm down. We can get you help,” Perry said calmly in hopes of not losing his star reporter. His hand in the air as though he were proving he was unarmed.

“Two things... I'm not Leslie anymore. Just call me Livewire. And as for getting me help? I think Lane's the one you should worry about!” As she swept her free hand through the air. Electric bolts flying through the room. Small fires erupted throughout the office as her bolts struck various desks.

A gust of air quickly extinguished these flames, followed by a voice, “I'm here. Let her go. We can talk this...” But before he could finish his sentence the Man of Steel was blasted back through the window he'd just arrived in. Livewire dropped Lois and quickly followed through the gaping hole in the side of the news building.

“What are you all still doing hiding under your desks?! Get out there and get the story!” Perry barked as he peered out of the hole.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"You know... I really didn't have a problem with you. In fact, I thought you were kinda cute,” Livewire held Superman down with her bolts, “But Luthor wanted me to get to you. He wanted the people against you. And I did it cuz it meant a fat paycheck. But now I know the truth. You are nothing but a killer.”

“I.... I'm exactly.... who I.... I say I am....” Superman struggled to get the words through his gritted teeth. “But... who are... who are you to judge.....are you.... Kismet or... Leslie......”

“Who the hell is Kismet?!” Livewire screamed. “You know what... I'll save the world a whole lot of trouble if I just end this now. “Tell me how this feels?” Livewire stepped forward as her skin cracked apart. Her outfit burst into flames and fell off of her naked form. Her body had become pure energy. She bent down and sat over Superman. “Some people have called you the Man of Steel. Let's find out how well a man of steel conducts electricity, shall we?” She leaned forward ready to give Superman a kiss when suddenly, she stood up grabbing her head. Her blue hue fades into a red hue. This red Livewire then jumps away and disappears into some electric cords. The Man of Steel climbed to his feet and looked around. Slowly he floated away, wary that he could be attacked again soon.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Leslie could only see black. She didn't know what was happening. All she knew was she was about to save the world from Superman when suddenly she heard a voice in her head scream, and then it was black. She continued searching for anything visible but saw nothing. Then, there was a voice...

“I am Kzzmt. Somehow, we have become one. The one you fought is dangerous. He has come at the head of an invasion. We must stop him. Right now I'm controlling our form. We will finish him next time but we need your world to know what he really is.”

“Honey, I was about to finish him. The world just needed to see his charred corpse.”

“No. He must be revealed first. Apparently he has become stronger. We need to reveal him to all.”

“The set-up is still at Centennial Park. And I know just who to call to get the fight broadcasted across the globe. We'll need to make a few stops, but first back to the LexCorp.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Luthor,” Superman looked down upon the man as he arrived in Centennial park. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes. I guess this is your chance to prove to me you're here to help,” Luthor sneered as he writhed in the bonds that attached him to metal scaffolding. A small jolt passed through him as his body went limp. Superman looked up to see Livewire kneeling on the scaffolding. She was flesh and blood again. Her skin was however a red hue again rather than the blue tint she'd held the whole time prior.

“What do you want? I am exactly who I've told everyone that I am. I don't even know where I'm from. I've been here on Earth ever since I was an infant,” Superman pleaded for Livewire's understanding. “Whether you're Leslie or Kismet, please understand.”

“My name is Kzzmt and I met you when I was but a little girl. I somehow followed your trail to this planet after you fled my planet. You killed my father and left the rest of my people to die by the hands of the Coluans!” Livewire screamed as she launched herself at Superman. Just as she was about to hit him she surrounded herself with an electric field which pushed the Man of Steel back.

“Kzzmt... you have to understand. That wasn't me. I've grown up here on Earth since infancy.”

“Lies!” Superman ducked behind a tree as she let out another bolt of lightning. Superman runs and grabs Livewire from behind. She quickly charges up and explodes into her energy form. She walks over to Superman. Barely recovered from the shock he speeds. Bolt after bolt flew past the Man of Steel. Suddenly, he went flying back as a bolt connected. His path tore through trees leading to him crashing into a small fountain. Livewire floated through the trees, thin trails of electricity connecting to the trees and ground suspending into the air. Superman looked as the water spread across the concrete. His eyes widened as he jumped out of the fountain. The next thing he knew he could hear Livewire scream as her electric tendrils touched the water. He turned as he saw her return to human form and fall to the ground unconscious.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“I'm here again...” Kzzmt looked around in the darkness. But unlike before she saw Leslie standing there.

“Wait... if you're here, and I'm here, then who's in control?”

“Neither of us. We're stuck.”

“Is that right? Well I've been waiting for this chance. You kicked me out of the driver seat before and I couldn't figure out how you did it, but now you're here. And now... I want control.” Leslie began to grow. “You see... I figured a part of this out. We're in my subconscious or your subconscious. We're in the mindscape, and here I can do anything I put my mind to. And right now, I feel like making sure I keep the power.” Leslie reached down and grabbed Kzzmt. “So long honey... thanks for the power.” Leslie opened her hand to reveal a small cube that glowed a bright red. “Take some time to think... you'll be in here for a long time.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“And I've gained all I can from this loathsome planet,” the stranger steps out of the archives. Three nodes similar to the Coluans are on his forehead, but slowly fade. “Initializing departure in 3... 2...”

“Why?!” Kzzmt steps out from her hiding place, “All we ever did was trust you!”

The stranger looked at the child, his eyes much colder than the man who saved her just moment earlier. “Ah, young child, your emotions... They rule you. That is the reason why. I, Brainiac, must save you from yourselves.”

Kzzmt runs up to the power line that glows in the middle of the path. “I'm going to stop you.” She kneels down touches the glowing line and reaches out her other hand. A massive bolt of lightning hits the stranger. His flesh begins to melt away to reveal a metallic skeleton.

“Well that just won't do.” a digitized voice proclaims as the rib cage opens revealing a small orb. One of the three nodes on the orb open and a laser hits the girl. “That will be enough. My Eradicators will destroy your people, but you all will live on in me. I have all of your knowledge. The Eradicators will also choose a few specimens for Kandor. Perhaps you will be one of them, child.”

Kzzmt slowly rises to her knees. She weakly lets out, “No...”

“Initializing departure in 3...”

The little girl crawls toward Brainiac.

“2...”

A glow surrounds the orb. The girl reaches out her hand. The electric discharge from Brainiac flows between the two.

1...

And in a final flash, the two are gone.

Continued...