Legends of Superman #14

[Glippernip]

LEGENDS OF SUPERMAN

#14: Going Ape

Written and edited by Joel A. Sawyer



Downtown Metropolis–Lexcorp Tower:
Lex Luthor, CEO of Metropolis’ largest company, felt his facial muscles tighten and his forehead become hot in direct relation to his displeasure. His blue eyes narrowed to slits as he beheld the object of his ire. Luthor stated coldly, “So, what you are telling me, Mr. Abernathy, is that after nine months of research with nearly unlimited resources as well as a $50,000 a month salary, all you have to show me...is a monkey?”

“Excuse me, Mr. Luthor,” Russell Abernathy began, “Toto is a chimpanzee. Chimps have no tails.”

“Do I look like Charlton Heston to you,” Lex said threateningly.

“No, Sir. At any rate, my research is not about Toto, he is just the test subject. The research is about metahuman physiology, utilizing processes that have created super abilities to create our own meta. If we can safely create a super-chimp, then we could create a metahuman of our own.”

“I haven’t seen any reports of your results.”

“Well, Sir, so far we haven’t had concrete results, but Toto has survived for longer than previous test subjects.”

“You’re fired,” Luthor said, nearly nose to nose with Abernathy, “While we are looking for weapons for use against metas so that we aren’t so reliant on costumed clowns for protection, you’ve spent your time, Lexcorp time, on a petting zoo. Go, and take Beppo with you.”

“What?!” Abernathy squealed, “I don’t have the facilities to care for a chimpanzee!”

“Not my concern. If you don‘t take him, I’ll have security drop him from the window. If he is lucky, maybe Superman will catch him.” Luthor strode to the lab door, then half-turned. “One more thing, Abernathy.”

“Yes, Mr. Luthor?”

“You’re fired.” Luthor left the room.

Truly believing in his work, Russell sighed and began to pack.

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

[Glippernip]

Screams. Cracking. A sound like cinder blocks hitting a sidewalk. The more he practiced, the easier it became to isolate the important sounds.

He arrived just in time to catch a two-door Camry as it plummeted from the highway overpass, the bridge cracking and breaking apart during rush hour traffic. Saving the passengers of the vehicle prevented him from stopping the seven-car fender bender, but at least none of those commuters would be seriously injured. At both ends of the bridge as well as the Interstate below, emergency vehicles screamed into the danger zone. He flew to each cluster of vehicles.

“Secure the traffic lanes,” Superman shouted to each group, “I’ll get the people off the bridge.” As he soared into action, he was amazed how the authorities moved instantly at his words. It seemed strange that so many citizens of Metropolis trusted him so completely in so short of time.

And yet, there were crimes being committed right now that he could not stop, individuals that he could not save.

“The real question is, what do you want to know the answers to?”

“One of my employees received a message from another survivor from his planet.”

“Who could turn down a living legend?”

Preoccupied, Superman barely heard the thanks of the men and women he had rescued.

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

[Glippernip]

“Look, up in the sky. It’s a plane!”
“It’s a bird!”
“It’s a frog!”
“A FROG?”
“Not plane, nor bird, nor even frog, its just little ol’ me...” >CLICK<.

Russell Abernathy shut his TV off with an annoyed grunt. He had awakened with a start, thinking he had just heard a noise. Probably Toto the chimp in the makeshift enclosure out back.

I should be looking for a job, he thought angrily, I can get work. I’ve spent all week trying to find a home for Toto.

“Stupid monkey,” he shouted.

Chimp, his inner voice corrected.

A soft knock came at his door. He brushed his black hair into a semblance of grooming and answered the door. Outside stood a very skinny, average sized man with a long face, square chin, and medium-brown hair. He smiled as he saw Russell.

“Dr. Abernathy?” the man asked with a friendly smile.

“Yes, I’m Abernathy,” Russell answered, feeling very wary.

“My name is Warren Vicksburg. It has come to my attention that you are no longer employed by Lexcorp. I’m sorry for this unfortunate event, but I may be able to ease some of your stress. I am the owner of a private laboratory outside of Metropolis, and I am very interested in your work.”

“I’m listening,” Russell told the skinny man.

“I own and operate RUHL, the Regional Ultra Humanic Laboratory. We specialize in the relatively new science concerning metahumans, particularly how their abilities function. Now, we are not out to build weapons like Lexcorp. We just want an understanding of these powers from a purely scientific perspective. These metas often defy the natural laws as we understand them, and as scientists, we want to know why. Could you imagine, for instance, if we could determine and replicate the flying ability several of these heroes and villains exhibit? Bam! Flying cars and more access to outer space! I believe you would be a huge benefit to the organization.”

Russell paused, unsure of how to respond. “What do you want from me?” he asked, “You showed up at my door.”

Vicksburg smiled and handed Abernathy a card. “Meet me at the lab building between 10 AM and 3 PM, any day this week. I’ll show you the facility, make you an offer, and we can go from there. Thank you for your time, Mr. Abernathy.”

The strange man in his white lab coat let himself out, leaving Russell in a cloud of confusion. In his experience, jobs do not seek you out.

Then again, he was released from Lexcorp. A cast-off from Luthor might be a commodity in scientific circles.

Feeling a little better, Russell turned his TV back on.

>CLICK< “When Polly’s in trouble I am not slow, so its hip, hip, hip, and away I go!”

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

[Glippernip]

“What are you trying to tell me, Kent?” Perry White glared at the blue suited reporter standing before his desk. Doesn’t the man ever wear any other colors, he thought.

“I’ve proven my worth to the Planet, sir,” Clark began, choosing his words carefully, “I was very lucky with Superman and Livewire, but I’m just not cut out for chasing down every super-being that visits Metropolis. Lois lives for that kind of excitement, but frankly, Mr. White, I could do with much less. I’m still willing to take tough jobs, I just don’t want to chase costumes.”

Perry stared at Kent for a long moment. “You’ve proved almost as good as Lane at digging those stories out. Fine. I’ll send you on less dangerous assignments. You have a fine investigative mind, Clark. Use it right and you can still be a huge success, without ‘costumes’. However, you are my second in line after Lois for those kind of stories, so don’t get complacent.”

“I won’t, Sir.”

Clark exited Perry’s office and looked across the newsroom. Well, that’s done, he thought. He had taken The Question’s comments on his secret ID to heart, so to start with, he wanted to place some distance between Clark Kent and Superman. If Lois becomes the point person for Superman stories, so be it. She seems to live off the action and danger, anyway. As Clark, I want to be somewhat successful, but not be a recognizable name.

He approached Lois and Jimmy, who were poring over photos of Superman. Clark stepped up and said, “Hi!” Jimmy cheerfully acknowledged, while Lois simply nodded her head in his general direction.“He’s all yours, Lois,” Clark said while motioning to the pictures, “I’ve opted out of those kinds of assignments.”

“Why would you do that, Smallville,” Lois asked with concern, “You were on the fast track at The Planet.”

“I still am,” Clark said, “just not for that area. You may see this super-hero stuff as a ticket to stardom, but I don’t even like the sight of blood, especially my own.”

Lois looked at him incredulously. “I think that is the wussiest thing a man has ever said to me. But that ‘stardom’ crack was uncalled for.”

“But Miss Lane,” Jimmy helpfully added, “didn’t you tell me last week that your ten year goal is to be the anchor on Metropolis News, if not on a National program?”

Lois blushed and irritably looked away.

“Well, you have to suit yourself, Mr. Kent,” Jimmy offered with a grin, “Me, I love watching Superman in action. I wish I could be a hero just like him.”

A cloud passed over Clark’s face as he recalled his experience with Chris Rache and The Toyman. “Careful what you wish for,” he told his young friend cryptically, “You never know who is listening.”

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

[Glippernip]

“And here is where you would work, if you wish,” Warren Vicksburg told Russell Abernathy as they toured the RUHL site.

“This seems to be a rather small outfit,” Abernathy said, “What, sixteen scientists and you?”

“Certainly, plus technicians and security. We are very small, but very diligent. Our resources are much larger than our actual size would suggest. Let me show you something.”

Vicksburg led Abernathy to a large refrigeration unit and lifted the top of the chest. He picked up a 2-liter sized container of a silver substance.

“This is Promethium. We keep it cold for portability, since it is pudding consistency at room temperature. It has some amazing mutagenic properties, but is somewhat unstable. We are looking for a stabilizing substance.”

Vicksburg led Abernathy from the fridge to a locked safe. “I’m the only one who has access to this, so you must come to me for a sample.” The skinny older man opened the safe door and removed a metal box. Lifting the box lid, Vicksburg revealed the treasure.

“Isn’t is magnificent,” Warren asked. Abernathy just nodded with mute fascination.

In the box sat a soft ball sized opaque crystal of a brilliant green color. It also glowed luminous green, giving a strange emerald cast to their faces.

“What is it?” Abernathy asked.

“We haven’t even name it yet,” Vicksburg said with hushed excitement, “I’m looking to see if anyone else has identified this substance. I’ve only located two other possible samples in the world! And this stone has properties even more fantastic than the Promethium. It seems to absorb right into the skin with contact, than slowly dissipate without any harmful effect to humans. It gives off a unidentifiable radiation, and can be used as a power source. I wish we had a larger sample, but a little of this substance goes a long way.”

Vicksburg smiled at the way Abernathy stared at the rock. “10,000 a month plus travel expenses,” Warren said.

“When can I start?” came the reply.

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

[Glippernip]

“I’ll put it this way, Lex,” Clancy Bell stated. They sat in Luthor’s main office on the top floor of Lexcorp Tower. The smallest floor of the building, Lex’s office was the only room here. He could walk the perimeter of the room and look down on most of downtown Metropolis, with only two buildings standing taller.

My city, Lex thought, returning his attention to his personal lawyer.

“I know you are a powerful person, Lex, but you aren’t above the law. If you keep targeting Superman, you will draw attention to yourself.”

“Nothing links me directly to these incidents,” Luthor explained.

“Perhaps not,” Mr. Bell replied, “but if you have multiple pieces of tech traced back to Lexcorp, people will look at you as CEO. One or two items could be explained away as rogue employees or tech theft, but we’re already past that point. Even if you were totally innocent and completely unknowing about these incidents, you could be held responsible. Look at Enron. Some of those punished were guilty of nothing more than not reporting things they saw.”

Luthor inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to hold in his irritation. Clancy Bell, while not really a partner-in-crime, knew of some of Lex’s dirtier deals to get to this point in his life. And, though Lexcorp was a billion dollar company, it was still a new company and not as stable and untouchable as one might think. Bell had always given Lex intelligent advice. “What do you suggest,” Luthor asked.

“First, forget about John Henry Irons,” Clancy said, looking Lex square in the eye, “The legal team can watch him to see if he profits from any Lexcorp patents, but otherwise, he’s not worth it.”

“And Superman?”

“I don’t even know why you hate him so much,” Bell said.

“I do not hate the alien,” Lex argued.

“Your concentration on him exceeds normal concern and veers into paranoia. If you must focus on Superman, do it quietly. If you develop weapons against him, make sure they have a military or security application. Have them ready, but don’t create your own opportunities to use the weapons against him. The opportunities will present themselves”

“What does that mean?”

“Eventually, his light will fade, Lex. He’ll make a mistake, the public and/or the Government will turn against him. Lexcorp will be there with the proper tools to bring him down.”

A light flickered in Luthor’s eyes. “Wait until he stumbles, then have the equipment ready. Then I would be the hero, or at least Lexcorp would make a killing selling the weaponry. That’s very sneaky.”

“Not really,” Mr. Bell replied, “Sometimes the difference between a criminal act and a heroic one is the timing. Every strong government knows that.”

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

[Glippernip]

“We’ve made a breakthrough!” one of the other RUHL scientist’s shouted, drawing the attention of his colleagues. “We can use substance 27, the green crystal, as the power source of a beam, and the radiation from the substance saturates the target. This increases the absorption of the radiation in cells, and any effects will last longer.”

Warren Vicksburg bustled over on his long, skinny legs. “What have you tested this effect on?” he asked.

“Mice and rats,” the man replied.

“That won’t do,” Vicksburg muttered, “We need a more substantial test subject.”

“Um, Mr. Vicksburg?” Russell Abernathy began.

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

[Glippernip]

“Thanks a heap, Ma,” Clark said, “I’ll help you with the dishes.”

“I’m fine, dear,” Martha Kent waved off her super-son as she motorvated to the kitchen.

Clark looked over at his adoptive father as the older man settled into his well-worn Lazyboy in the living room of their Smallville farmhouse. “She used to make me do chores for her every day. Now, she won’t let me touch anything.”

“Because, back then, it was her job to raise you up right, to teach you that work is nothing to fear. You’ve been to college and moved to Metropolis. Now you are visiting, and a guest doesn’t work in her kitchen.”

“That’s silly,” Clark said with a smile.

“True, but it’s what your Ma lives by. Of course, once you marry, your wife will likely be drafted for kitchen duty.”

“You make Ma sound like a drill sergeant,” Clark stated, then he chided, “You know, that chair is about 5 years past due. You should get a new one.”

“Mayhap,” Pa Kent answered, “but then it would take a while to work my butt print back into the cushion.” He patted the armrest lovingly, “This old girl has shared many good memories. ‘Dallas’. ‘Frasier’. ‘Flavor of Love’.”

Clark’s mouth dropped open. “You do not watch that show,” he pleaded.

“Funniest thing on TV in years, though for all the wrong reasons.” John chuckled for a moment, then asked, “You thought about it some more? Made any decisions?”

“Well, Pa, how would you feel if I pursued this?”

“We love you, son, but we never in our lives imagined you would even have the opportunity.” Pa leaned forward. “If there is someone out there who knows where you are from, of even comes from the same place, I would expect you to look for them. I would do it, if it were me.”

“Besides,” Ma called from the kitchen, having listened to every word the men had said, “If your people have any medical traits that could cause problems later, it would be nice to know.”

“That’s not something I’m too concerned about, Ma.”

“Even so,” Ma said with that ‘end of discussion’ tone that both men knew well.

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

[Glippernip]

“Here you go, Toto,” Russ Abernathy said while he submersed the chimp in a tank of Promethium-infused water. It was a strange treatment, but had produced some amazing results for those test subjects who had survived. “He’s calming down, Warren,” Russ called.

Two weeks, and I’m at first name basis with my boss, Abernathy thought, this job keeps getting better and better.

“Back off, Russ,” Warren Vicksburg shouted, “I’m throwing the switch.”

Russell moved away as Toto the chimp was bathed with the green, flourescent rays from Substance 27. The reaction came in less than 3 minutes as the ape’s form began to bulge, to expand. Russell backed up against the wall in shock and fear even as Warren, like in hundreds of mad scientists in old black-and-white movies, cackled and laughed while the chimp reached gorilla size, then Sasquatch size, then the size of a pickup truck. The simian jumped from the tank, destroying the restraints that had held him there, and in complete terror, broke through an outer wall.

“Toto! Good God!” Russ cried.

“More like Titano, now,” Vicksburg corrected, grinning like a ghoul as the ape, still growing, sprinted out of sight.


To Be Continued...