Elsewhere, in the sprawling Metropolis, Michael Carter walks the streets in civilian clothes, Skeets hidden in his bag.
“Wonderful. We’re stuck here. The time police are after me.”
“Sir...”
“I’m a fugitive in time. An outcast. Some hero I’d make.”
“Sir...”
“Maybe I should just turn myself in.”
Skeets flies out of the bag. “Sir!”
“WHAT?!”
“Look, Sir.”
And Michael looks upward, seeing the T-Rex towering over a nearby building, as well as Superman fighting off the Pterodactyl.
“What the..?”
Next he sees a Triceratops charging for him. Grabbing Skeets, he dives into a nearby alley. “This isn’t my fault, is it?”
“Sir, if I may be so bold. This appears to be a job for your alter ego.”
One quick change and Booster Gold is blasting from the alley.
“Help!” screams a woman. “My son!”
Booster looks on and sees the kid in the path of the charging Triceratops and quickly snatches him to safety. “Gotcha, kid.”
Booster then flies him down to his mom.
The woman hugs the kid and smothers him with kisses. “Thank you! Thank you! Who are you?”
“Booster Gold’s the name, but really can’t chat, there’s a disaster at foot!” and he flies off.
“‘A disaster at foot’, Sir?”
Booster ignores his robotic “sidekick”, “Any idea what’s causing this?”
“My sensors indicate chronal energy emitting from up there.”
Booster looks upward and spots the Lord of Time. “Whew, so it isn’t my fault.”
“What a relief,” comments Skeets sarcastically.
“Right, on my way,” he states flying to the top of the building. “Hey, you! Who do you think you are?!”
The Lord of Time, setting up a chronal cannon, looks over to Booster. “Oh, the buffoon. Boy, don’t bite off more than you can chew.” He continues to set up the cannon.
“You don’t look so tough.”
Then future weaponry, lasers and blasters pop up from the Lord of Time’s armor.
“Gulp,” comes from Booster before he leaps behind a heating unit.
“I’m in the process of getting rid of the ‘Man of Steel’. This diversion is to keep Superman off guard so I can send him back in time. To the dawn of creation. The big bang. I doubt even Superman could survive that. He will essentially be erased from history.”
Booster Gold gets up on wobbly knees and comes out. “N... not while... I... I’m around.”
“But why stop me, Mr. Carter? Yes, I know who you are. I know you’re original intentions to come to this century. You wanted to replace him. You wanted fame. Glory. It was I, the Lord of Time, who altered your time jump, and it is I who can allow you to become... what was it you said? Ah, the idol of millions?”
For several long minutes Booster Gold stands there, motionless and silent.
“Sir?”
“You know what? I do want those things. I want to have fame. I want glory. In my own time, I was a big shot football star. But I fixed a game. I became a disgrace. Washed up. So what did I do? I stole this suit and went back in time to take the place of a famous historical figure. You’re right, ‘Lord of Time’, I want those things.”
The Lord of Time grins, as he continues to aim the chronal cannon at Superman.
“Ya know what else I want, ‘Lord’? I want to be a hero!” he exclaims as he sends out a electromagnetic pulse directed at the cannon, which blows up in the Lord of Time’s face.
“NOOOO!!!!” he screams as electricity crackles around him, and he gets sucked into a time vortex.
Booster Gold smiles as he sees the dinosaurs start to disappear as well. But his smile fades once more as another time portal opens and several time police pour out of it.
“Michael Jon Carter, you are under arrest!”
“Sir, what do we do?”
“Skeets, I turn myself in. I sur...”
“Oh, no you don’t,” states Superman as he descends onto the roof.
“This man is a fugitive from the 25th century, Superman.”
“And this man is a hero in the 21st century.” Superman turns to Booster. “I heard what you said. You made some mistakes, but it looks like you’re willing to correct them.”
“Yessir,” answers Booster.
“Superman, it is an honor to meet you, but we have our orders.”
“Community service, then? Leave him here, to help out. I’m willing to take the responsibility of his actions.”
“Superman, I can’t...” starts Booster.
“Booster, if what you said today is true, there is no risk.” Turning to the police, he asks, “Deal?”
“Deal. Who could turn down a living legend.”
****
