Chapter 48 - My SI Stash #48 - Marvel Mutant in DC by Grey Dragon (DCU) (2/2)

It's a Thursday. 22 March 1989. I never cared to check before.

I feel like I was run over by a small car. Bad, but not awful. I have a goose-egg on the side of my face from where I face-planted on concrete and while my left hand doesn't seem to be broken, it is certainly swelling. Apparently the wool mask was good for something: it kept the blood out of my eyes at the critical moments. Probably didn't notice the rest because I was running on adrenaline at the time.

Lazing in bed until late morning helps the lesser aches and pains in my ribs and shoulder.

Going to a small clinic I get my hand seen to, put into a cast. Which is really going to put a crimp into any trips out in costume… unless I find a nice set of leather gloves. Which I do immediately afterwards. Can't be too careful.

Still, I made the newspapers again with my antics… seems the two seriously injured guys are still kicking and I got some kudos for helping with the fire.

The trip to the bank was a lengthy and boring experience and involved no obvious bank robbers… are my thoughts appearing in bubbles on a page? Was I too obvious and spoilt the plot lines? Am I a fourth wall breaking character?

This is giving me a headache.

At least my money was still where it was supposed to be. I guess Dad really didn't care for what amounted to his own pocket change. At the b_a_r_e minimum, it should be enough to get the ball rolling on my own little business.

Once I get as far away from this continent as possible. At least in the US I have a few potentially friendly people I can network with on a regional level. Mostly it is because they are people I know I can trust. Out here I know I have only Fleur-de-lis as potential backup in a serious event. I really don't trust any minor league human baseline character to able to help if I'm being overpowered.

God, I'm still thinking of them as characters… like NPCs in a video game. I'm messed up. They are living, breathing (in most cases) people. And I am really out of my depth. I've jumped into this gig with just raw power and nothing else. I'm Superman without growing up in Kansas. I'm Batman without martial arts training. I'm a complete idiot.

I'd blame the hormones, but I think it's simply that I'm just an impulsive kid. As much as I like to think I'm m_a_t_u_r_e, that is as always a question of time and experience. Reincarnation really likes to give sucker-punches you just never see coming.

I guess that close call with death and very nearly undeath has gotten me into an introspective mood.

Cheer up!

Time to fossick through old junk for treasure that is pretending to be garbage.

I guess back to the phone book for me…

A systematic search is probably the best way to go about it. I assumed. The following hours of mild bemus_e_m_e_nt and fruitless searching was not what I expected. Sure some of the knickknacks were cool, I mean seeing fifty year old postcards of Wonder Woman is interesting as it is historical reality here.

It isn't until I visit the last, of course, that anything interesting appeared. It wasn't magic, but instead a hunk of red kryptonite. Because yes, apparently I am that unlucky. The glassy, red glowing rock was so damn obvious. Someone had polished it into a rounded, ovoid shape and treated it like a glow in the dark trinket.

Just what I need, the kryptonite of temporary randomness. Heck, Superman probably doesn't even know he has a weakness yet. Let alone several. And this stuff, like all kryptonite is prone to being toxic to humans after a lengthy term of exposure.

On the other hand, I can't just leave it there. And I'm deathly afraid of being involved in a Zod type of incident. I mean I'm baseline human, physically. Not even peak. It wouldn't take an effort for a kryptonian to kill me, let alone powerhouses like Darkseid or Doomsday without my shields. They'd be able to just ignore any regular tricks with metal I use too.

It costs all of five Francs. I asked where it came from, but the owner had no clue. It was mixed in with a geological mineral collection.

Sealed into a little lead block with a lot of effort and magnetic field warping I guess I have a new pendant? Plated in nickel steel, to avoid those nasty health problems. It's just common sense.

So yay? I guess. I got an anti-Superman weapon before Lex Luthor.

This is not something I feel proud of.

Chapter 1.8

10:21 AM, 23rd March 1989.

Red umbrella…

There are no umbrellas.

Just people passing. It is a busy street, but no one seems to fit that one little detail. I settle into a cafe to wait. And wait.

Three hours and several cups of coffee later I was getting jumpy… although it was equal parts caffeine and apprehension. I think the pretty waitress found me amusing, suspecting I was waiting for a date since she was frequently passing my table offering encouragement.

Turns out, the umbrella wasn't an object. It was a tattoo. On the arm of a burly guy, the image being a type of burlesque performed by a blonde using said red umbrella.

The waitress who it seemed had been taking a break, looked this way and nearly choked on a cup of tea, when he sat down opposite me. Apparently a thirteen year old kid stands out, on a school day. The guy in question is quite stiff, probably because he knows who I am. He isn't armed, but a big guy is a big guy.

Just to be cautious, I have the cutlery drawer of the cafe ready to descend on him like a biblical plague at the first sign of aggression.

But he simply slides a manilla folder to me under the table and walks away.

Fl_i_c_k_i_n_g through the pages of doc_u_mentation within confirms I am (Illegally) Victor Ignatius Magnus, born in… 1974. I'm apparently fifteen years old on paper… whoops.

Meh. Doesn't matter. Makes it harder to trace me back to one Count Vertigo.

Passport looks real, it even has a previous use… apparently I've briefly visited Spain.

Born in a hospital in the south of Paris… parents deceased, a tropical disease and accident claimed my fake mom and dad respectively. I'm legally emancipated too. Nice touch.

I don't know how well these will hold up to scrutiny but they look good. Beyond that how can I really know?

Calling the waitress for a final snack to go, I mess with her a little.

”That'll teach me to look for a date on the internet...” I add aloud. Yes, a dating horror story meme years ahead of schedule! Mission accomplished.

Afterwards I make a visit to the American Embassy and apply for a change of citizenship and immigration. Surprisingly easy to do, all things considered. Perhaps too easy? The Cold War is still active and shouldn't that make this much harder? Am I overthinking this?

Answers come soon enough.

As a tall blonde woman throws an arm around mine at the entrance and hauls me toward a car.

”We meet again, my White Knight.” She teases.

”How did you find me Fleur?” I asked.

”Who do you think helped hush the rumours of your visit to the shadowy side of the tracks and ensured you received genuine identification?” She asked. ”Those papers are all as genuine as an alias can be. Did I get your age right?”

”Actually I'm thirteen.”

”So young, I was convinced you were older.” She stated as I was dragged into a small car. ”I must also say, I am saddened you wish to leave our beautiful nation so quickly. You could do much good here.”

”It is complicated.” I finally replied.

”Is this related to your family?” She asked sliding into the driver's side ”Because France will do much to protect her heroes.”

”Not entirely. I'm most worried about what happens when the next Superman reveals themselves and proves rotten.”

She blinked. ”You know about the red blur and the giant bat?”

”You know about The Flash and Batman?” I asked surprised.

”I have seen intelligence reports of these beings. The Flash would be an old man by now.” She replied. ”But you know them better, don't you?”

”Just a little. Not all of it reliable.” I admitted. ”This is technically the second Flash. The name is a legacy.”

”How do you know?”

”Supernatural means. Some low accuracy, long term precognition.” I finally said.

”You are evading the truth. But anything you would elaborate on would be appreciated, for the good of the nation if nothing else.” Fleur looked at me closely.

”There are many more coming. With them they will bring rivals and enemies and disasters of global significance. Some are old faces from World War Two. Most are new or finally emerging from the depths of the past. The world is going to become a very strange place and I speak as a man who nearly electrocuted a talking Gorilla the other day.” I looked at her. ”You have seen or heard of some nasty figures of great power? The League of Shadows, an immortal named Savage, Circe the witch of Greek Myth to name ones you may know. They will become active as those who would battle the darkness become visible and successful. The chaos from the conflict is ever expanding; Earth will learn it is not the lone source of life.”

”I have seen photos… reports of things that were inhuman.” She admitted.

”Heaven and Hell exist as tangible places. Alien life already exists on Earth, some benevolent some malicious. Even places of legend and myth, the lost city of Atlantis and an island of Amazons wait to reveal themselves.” I chuckled.

”I will listen to these warnings, but they are outlandish. What next, fairies?” She asked laughing.

”The Fey exist too.” I winced. ”Soon we will need teams of people like the Superman to face the greater threats of the universe at large. That is why I'm going to America. It is where they will form.”

”Ah. I see.”

Chapter 1.9

5:28 PM, March 23rd, 1989.

Location: Fleur-de-lis' car.

”Would you be willing to aid the French people once more?” Fleur asked. ”We could use some help with a particularly thorny problem.”

”Something you need help with? I can assume it is unusual, something other than regular crime.” I shrugged. ”Okay, I'm listening.”

She nodded. ”It is serious. We have lost contact with a nuclear research laboratory and anyone who enters is killed.”

”Is there risk of explosion?” I asked quite worried, this could be anything.

”The experts looked over the records and nothing that was fissionable was stored there, but a dirty bomb is possible.” She answered seriously. ”It was a medical facility, not a weapons lab.”

”Okay, that is something. I don't have any ideas about who in particular might do this, but I recommend some heavy weapons be prepared, anti-tank or higher. A lot of the really bad guys are practically immune to anything conventional. And I wouldn't completely trust your experts, people able to make technology do things that seem insane will start cropping up as well. You must have seen reports of that machine that rescued the Gorilla. That is the tip of the iceberg. Alien tech exists that can do similarly ridiculous stuff. The same spark of genius that makes one an innovator tends to drive the owner insane if they face rejection, hardship or censorship. They try to solve all of their problems with their inventions… even if that is a deadly, exotic weapon.”

”Do you need any equipment?” She asked.

”A truck filled with steel rods and sheets. If it is magnetic, I can use it freely. To a certain weight, somewhere around seven tons.” I supplied.

”Ah… the metal you wore around your wrist as we flew. You use it to fly.” She nodded with understanding.

”Exactly.”

”I'll drop you off, so you can gather your costume… such as it is. I have a radio here, already tuned to the correct frequency. Ask for directions as you fly, military air traffic control will guide you there. I'll be on a helicopter following. Just wait at the designated zone until I arrive. From there you will be under my command and I have been issued tactical command.” Fleur explained.

”Okay. I understand.”

7:12 PM

There it is.

The facility is dark. No lights on. It is all glass and white foundation. Brand new, it looks like.

Spread out around the facility are several dozen armed men, soldiers in uniform and several lightly armed military vehicles. IFV's unless video games have deceived me.

Spotlights are focused on a field and the voice on the radio indicates I should land there. I descend slowly and deliberately, to avoid being seen as a hostile.

An officer in a green beret comes to me.

”Operative Metal Storm… correct?”

I nodded.

”Please wait and Operative Fleur-de-lis will be with you in fifteen. That is the extent of my orders, beyond being assigned as your escort. But may I just say… holy shit, kid. I can't believe you're real.” He added with astonishment.

”Yep.” Floating, I leaned back into a reclining position hands behind my head as I hovered nearly horizontal. ”But I'm just a civilian contractor. So who are you?”

”Sous-lieutenant Daniel, sir.” He responded briskly.

”How long has this siege been happening?” I asked.

”At 1120 all communications from the facility ended and have not been answered since. We were called in at 1400 by the local police after their initial check, due to the potential for terrorism.” Daniel shook his head. ”We lost the first squad we sent in abruptly and their relief squad managed to reach the exit before collapsing and subsequently expiring from an unknown toxic gas.”

”Shit. That is bad. Do you have any gas masks available? I'm just as susceptible as the next person.” I asked sitting up, feeling a thread of doubt.

”Standard issue with radiation and bio-hazard duty. I'll make sure you get one.” He added.

As time passed two things happened, a truck stacked with building materials entered my range and Fleur's chopper landed.

She spent several minutes issuing orders as I waited and I found I had been placed on the new breaching squad, at least they handed over a gas mask and ensured it fitted.

The truck was moved to the parking lot of the building, inside my range. And then we entered the building… and the strangest thing… I couldn't sense a single living being in here besides us. No nerves, no flowing blood. Nothing obvious.

Which just creeped me out even more. Something is coming. Metal objects began to move, in response to the sound of our advance, but nothing obviously humanoid… several objects? A squad of drones perhaps? Too much steel reinforced concrete cluttering my view of the things on the floor above us.

I was in the middle of the squad, with Fleur armed with a sub-machine gun at the front.

I whispered our opposition was above us and pointed their exact location.

The soldiers were sceptical but Fleur rolled with it.

”Everyone, prepared?” She asked as we stacked up around the door to the second floor.

I nodded along with the rest, as several dozen hunks of steel hovered outside the building, waiting for my command.

Time to kick the hornet's nest and see what falls out.

Chapter 1.10

8:42 PM 23rd March 1989

Waiting those final few moments before the fight is the hardest part. The tension climbs as you are forced to wait patiently for a moment of life and death, like a roller-coaster on steroids.

”Breech!”

The door opened and a flashbang was thrown inside, to explode.

”Go, go, go!” The squad entered… and there it was. Shaking it's 'head' to clear the effects of the grenade. Singular. The metal pieces, some as tall as a man were limbs. The virulent green of the vaguely humanoid creature glistened under the torchlight emerging from under the soldier's weapons. Printed on the metal limbs was a bio-hazard symbol and the hazardous waste signs that indicated danger.

”Ggggg.” It g_r_o_a_n_e_d.

”Light it up!” A soldier shouted.

The entire squad fired on the huge green thing, that looked to be similar to a bloated suit of bio-hazard protection gear. The bullets pierced the 'skin' which sealed behind them, the bullets visibly dissolving in the internals of the giant.

It began to raise an arm, fluid pulsing from within and pointed at us.

Shit!

I threw up a barrier, at the right time because immediately the insides of the giant green thing spewed out as it tried to hose us in that green goop. It slid off the barrier and melted everything material it came in contact with, eating into the floor like zenomorph blood. Acid at ludicrous concentrations.

Droplets still managed to bounce off my shield and over it. Two of the soldiers shouted, as they felt the chemical bite into their body. My sleeve gained a hole.

”GGGGGG!” The creature growled in irritation, rising to it's full height and partially emerging into the third floor as it was simply too big for this one.

”Pull back, I'll distract it. This thing is nothing human!” I shouted over the partial collapse of the building's third floor.

The thing's internals swirled and from a metal structure in the head it spewed a mist.

”Run! Gas weapon!” I added.

Steel rods speared inside, penetrating the bulk of the creature. Through the centre torso and 'head'. But to my dismay, my rods began to disappear from my senses as we broke contact and sprinted. One of the soldiers, slowed by a leg injury fell. I threw my arms around his c_h_e_s_t and dragged him with me, levitating to keep up with the others.

”What was that thing?!” One of the soldiers asked when we reached the exit.

”A living vat of chemicals, I think.” I panted from the strain of carrying the injured man. ”Like a golem. No internal organs and I think it regenerates. I don't think it is very smart, but it's going to be hell to stop.”

”Suggestions?” Fleur asked.

”I don't see any way to contain it, with that acid spray. It likely has other chemical weapons, it is probably an elemental of some description.” I took a breath… before I sensed movement. ”Look out, it is after us!”

We began to run as the massive figure burst through the windows of the second floor and crashed into the parking lot in a crouch.

Then the fluid began to boil across it's body's surface, oh crap.

I threw a complete bubble force-field around it. Sealing it inside the barrier. As it exploded like a can of soda shaken too hard. The barrier held against the force of the spray.

I slumped in relief, that was an attack intended for everyone in the area.

”That was you before? How long can you hold it like this?” Fleur asked.

”Depends. A few hours, maybe if it stays fluid. But I'm fairly sure it is already pulling itself back together. If it starts attacking the barrier directly I'm not sure if it'll hold. If a big guy like that puts an effort into his swings…” I shook my head.

Fleur looked apprehensive. ”Could we try to asphyxiate it?”

”Already doing that, my barriers are airtight. If he isn't dropping from lack of oxygen soon, chances are it doesn't breathe.” I explained.

”Okay, good to know.” She snapped her fingers and came to a conclusion. ”Explosives are out, if it can regenerate from self destruction all we would do is spread whatever that mess is.”

”Yes, it also dissolved every bit of metal that entered the main body.” I added. ”Including several steel rods inches thick.”

”Heat then. Incinerate it with napalm? No that could spread the contamination.” She brainstormed.

”Freeze it!” I realised. ”It's fluid… if it can be frozen we could restrain it in a large refrigerator and transport it in a refrigerated truck.”

She looked my way with wide eyes. ”Wait just a moment I need to check something.” She ran toward the laboratory.

However I had my hands full. The creature was nearly reformed.

”GGGGgggg!” It rumbled, raising a massive steel arm.

Well, don't think things are so easy monster.

I wrenched with my power, twisting the arm against the fluid. But my reward? Pain. I fell to my knees as the green goop tore through my efforts with brute strength, overwhelming me. The arm hammered down on the barrier, shattering it like brittle glass.

It stepped forward, to bring me in range of the next blow.

Chapter 1.11

8:48 PM 23rd March, 1989.

The giant green thing raised a massive fist over me as I watched, momentarily stunned.

The following moment gunfire rang out, heavy guns. Fist sized holes were blown into the creature in a stream, causing green fluid to splatter onto the asphalt and corrode it. It lowered the arm to defend from the annoying stings.

I took that moment to take flight, moving sharply back and away. That was far too close. He had me dead to rights.

”GGGGG!” It ground out, in frustration… and I can honestly say I was surprised it had emotions.

It aimed at one of the armed vehicles with the other arm and let loose. To be foiled by yet another barrier, one placed in the path of the spray, just out of reach of the creature. It is good thing my barriers, aside from a slight haze are completely transparent. The creature seems blind to them.

It glanced at me and pointed both arms my way. I played turtle under a wide barrier as the spray began, but to make things interesting, apparently the creature could learn. Because while one arm continued to blind me behind my barrier with acid, the other moved to target a French military vehicle. They saw it coming and threw the machine into movement I could sense, trying to evade.

They failed.

In scant moments the vehicle was a melted wreck and the occupants, very, very dead.

That didn't stop the other vehicles and soldiers taking potshots, or the helicopter that joined the assault a moment ago unleashed a flurry of rockets from underneath a pair of stubby wings.

The creature g_r_o_a_n_e_d under the assault, before turning and running blindly as it sloshed, splashing green ichor everywhere in it's path. The question of course, where the heck was it headed.

Until a soldier swore in realisation.

It is headed straight for the outskirts of Paris. It was too dumb to know better; if it could even understand the costs of it's actions.

I'd have to slow it down until conventional firepower could be applied.

At that moment Fleur called on the radio she gave me. ”Found the laboratory's manifest. There is a significant quantity of liquid nitrogen being used for experiments and specimen storage. A vat. The helicopter has orders to follow the monster, come retrieve it.”

Perfect. Turning I rushed into the lab, to find Fleur emerging from the bas_e_m_e_nt by the stairway.

No time for subtlety and minimising damage in this situation, I pulled her down with me to give directions. The vat, the size of a small swimming pool and several feet tall was heavier than a small car. Unscrewing the bolts holding it in place I lifted it carefully, before tearing some of the concrete roof away using the embedded steel rebar to give me a quick exit.

Turning I followed the creature, as I passed I emptied the truck filled with steel for my use as projectiles, using a steel plate to provide a platform as footing for myself and Fleur as I flew.

She coordinated with me and the helicopter over the radio, by relaying the direction and current movements of the green creature.

We saw the flashes of rocket impacts as we caught up.

It had just waded through a stream and was ten minutes at current best speed from emerging into a heavily populated suburban area.

A second helicopter buzzed, high overhead. A news chopper, most likely broadcasting live.

The armed helicopter was called off, just in time as the creature lashed out with a pinpoint stream of goop at high pressure; which passed beside the evading military vehicle.

I moved down, getting in it's path and raising a barrier. As it slowed to strike me, the vat of liquid nitrogen slammed into it's back. I let the entire thing get swallowed and dissolved, just for the inevitable reaction as the seal on the liquid container was breached.

The creature froze solid. In places. Not a complete freeze, as it could still move the left arm and leg slightly. But the reaction slowly died off and then began to reverse.

”Damn, it wasn't enough!” I g_r_o_a_n_e_d as he took a step forward.

”We can't let it into Paris! Who knows how many lives would be lost if it does!” Fleur responded.

”I'll do what I can to stall. Call up any reinforcements you can to deter it. If it comes down to it, we may only have one remaining option. Shout for help from Superman… if we're lucky he'll hear us.” I growled. ”But until then, we struggle on!”

I set her down back as far as I could and then moved forward, to do the one thing I could do well.

All out attack.

I sent down the sheets of steel and several rods, tearing and slashing into the creature as it trudged, barely mobile, onward.

I aimed at the goop directly below the arm, trying to sever the connection. The first sheet got stuck past the half way mark, but the second from the opposite side came up and they met in the middle with a clang, as the arm dropped to the ground.

With a jerk, I threw the creature's unconnected arm aside, back towards the stream and focused on the other. A mistake I immediately regretted as the severed limb was replaced by a tentacle limb of pulsating green fluid spinning like a vortex which lashed out at me across the distance like a whip.

Even as the second metal limb was severed the regenerated first struck against a hastily erected barrier around me at the very last moment and hurled me down into the ground. In a round barrier like a hamster ball, I spun out of control.

The barrier at least absorbed the impact to a degree, as I got a mouthful of sod and left an imprint of my body in the wet soil. I think I cracked a rib or two.

As I lay, listening to footsteps shuddering the earth I heard heard a shout. Female. Fleur.

I stood up to catch sight of her hurling a grenade, which bounced off the green skin before exploding.

Big Green really disliked that, sending a lash of his right fluid tentacle at her which she evaded with an acrobatic flip. She followed up with a leap over a back handed swipe that would have placed her in a world record position in high jump on a normal Earth.

But human is still human, the protean arm curved and came after her as she descended.

With a gesture I gave her a barrier as a foothold, giving her the opportunity to leap aside at the last moment to avoid the chemical monstrosity's blow mid air.

It lashed out again, with both arms.

Fleur leaned back to avoid the first, I backed her up by sending several plates of steel down like shurikens, hacking into the flailing green limbs.

”GGGGGG!” The giant g_r_o_a_n_e_d, as it drew the arms back in pain as they were partially severed along their length. I followed up by sending plates to slam into the torso at c_h_e_s_t height and ramming them home with metal rods, trying to slice the gelatinous goop in half like dough with a cookie cutter.

It slumped and the green fluid poured from the great gash. But as always, the gash began to seal, the fluid to return to the main body. And thus Fleur and I waited. For the onslaught to come.

Chapter 1.12

9:13 PM, 23rd March 1989.

Chemo had reached the outskirts of the city, which were being evacuated.

The battle had degenerated into a back and forth between us, as I took parked cars and tried to use them as projectiles to slow him down. He's learned to bat them aside, when he can and I'm struggling to find a valid counter with only the materials of everyday life around me. All my ammunition has been corroded.

The good news is that this has reduced his acidic abilities to the level of vinegar, the bad news he's switched to using toxic gases and sprays instead.

Fleur-de-lis has abandoned this position and is overseeing research into a potential avenue of attack, leaving me facing the six metre tall green blob with whatever I can find. Sporadic gunfire echoes as soldiers, police forces and other groups able to assist in the desperate defence attack from behind cover.

Chemo forges onward, determined now for whatever reason to reach the thing we are protecting, to hurt us. From his direction, the Eiffel Tower itself. Striding right into our trap. A dozen requisitioned fire-engines unleash their hoses on the monster, carving him up like jello.

Unfortunately we lose track of him as he is flushed down into the storm drains. His torn skin pulled along behind him.

He emerged several blocks further downtown, demolishing the metro station in the process.

From the looks of it, the military have finally decided to bring out the big guns as tanks and multiple attack helicopters pull into range and unleash everything they have. The block itself is levelled under the bombardment and Chemo screams.

”GGGGGGGGggggg!!!!!!” Echoed as the green creature was torn apart by the high explosive munitions.

He began to regenerate in place, to be beaten down again by concentrated fire.

I intervened as the green thing began to pull itself stubbornly back together yet again. Barriers cutting into the goop, scooping the majority out… the core I hoped. I flew away, carrying the halved thing, hoping it was helpless. It had left mass behind, hopefully this wouldn't create smaller clones.

Past a certain point, reports indicated the rest of it was chasing the 'core'.

However even weakened it struggled to escape, throwing it's seemingly deflated self at the barrier. Flexing and expanding inside, trying to use pressure to burst the bubble shield that held it contained.

Layering barriers helps, I find. The innermost shatters, the next cracks but the third holds long enough for me to slam the whole thing into the walk-in freezer of an ice cream manufacturer.

Pinning it down I wait for it to freeze.

”Ggggg!!!” It cries, struggling against potential checkmate. The triple layered barrier seems too much for it.

I've turned the dial on the freezer to maximum output, as I watch it begin to slow down with a grin. The other half flows inside nearly an hour later as I struggle to hold the main body at my mercy. I catch it as it attempts to deluge me by pouring from the roof like rain. Wait, no. That's a distraction!

The barriers fail as it struggles in a last ditch effort on the inside and envelops and crushes the outside. Whole again, but severely chilled it begins to attempt to leave the freezer.

No, you don't get to escape!

My power cannibalises the factory in range, machinery disassembling, wiring unconnected to the freezer uncoiling. It's almost solid. I give it everything, down to screws and bolts but once Green has momentum all I can do is get out of the way.

It bursts out the wall, emerging into the cross-hairs of what would amount to a small army. Who immediately opened fire. Thousands of bullets chewed the giant, every second, rendering it's regeneration void for long enough it bled out… temporarily.

I slammed a bench torn from a rest area down into the mass of chilled goop, Slicing it up and hurling it back into the freezer. I layered barriers over quartered sections of the monster, sealing it in for the long haul.

Only when a massive transport helicopter appeared overhead hauling on cables below it a semi-trailer tanker labelled liquid helium did I feel relief.

I gave a chuckle as Fleur leaned out the helicopter side door to wave.

Watching that green pile of goo being turned into chunks of ice, was worth the effort.

”Gggggg...” It w_h_i_n_ed.

Shut up, already!

I didn't realise until much later that the news helicopter was still circling, with friends. At some point I had lost my gas mask. When I got knocked down, I think. World wide, my face had become as recognisable as Superman's in mere minutes.

”F_u_c_k.” I whispered, realising. I really hope fake glasses work that well for me.

Interlude: Clark Kent

The Daily Planet was a busy place, made even more so by the news of yet another heroic person with immense power. Clark was glad that the situation had been resolved, the monstrosity that apparently was formed from and used chemical weapons defeated. He felt some regret he couldn't be there to help reduce the damage and inevitable cost in lives such a creature would bring. The nature of his own abilities, he mused.

Superman could fly, sure enough, but his hard limit was at most around Mach three. It would have taken two and a half hours to reach Paris and rather unfortunately he had been delayed, writing a fluff piece on the local zoo with Jimmy Olson along for photos.

He had made more than half the trip across the ocean, when he overheard that the situation was resolved, from the radio of a passing cargo vessel.

With a sigh he returned, only to be grilled by Lois about where he had been. The optometrist, he claimed. He needed a second set of glasses anyway, clenching certain facial muscles only helped so far to disguise his identity, wide frames and coke-bottle thick lenses really helped the illusion along.

This young man, known as 'Joyride' in French dared to reveal his real face without care for the repercussions, Clark was mildly jealous. He could never do that, bringing that kind of attention on his parents and friends or even co-workers.

Of course Metropolis was a busy place and after being given barely the length of time to drink a cup of coffee as he thought of doing away with all the lies he was caught once more by an obviously motivated Lois Lane and cornered.

”Smallville! Stop goofing off with your head in the clouds and start gathering information on that 'Joyride' kid, I want every scrap of information on him… reading between the lines he's almost a copycat Superman!” She demanded, that passion for a good story ablaze once more. God help you, Joyride. ”After that, we are heading to Paris ourselves on the three o'clock flight, by the words of Perry White himself! Grab a camera, you're my photographer. Here's hoping we can find something news worthy in all that mess, if not the destruction, the soldiers involved and the homeless should give us a decent story.”

”Right!” Clark jumped to it, accidentally spilling the last of his coffee on his shirt in the process of checking his watch. Get the newspaper clippings and tape recordings of the incident, then hurry back to his apartment to pack an overnight bag. They could review the information on the flight. Also change his shirt and leave it soaking, so it didn't stain.

At least with his powers he rarely felt rushed and doing simple chores like anyone else went a long way to keeping his strength and speed within normal human levels in day to day situations.

Jimmy came running up looking excited.

”I hear you're heading to Paris with Lois, City of Love and all that… don't do anything I'd do!” The young photographer teased, in a cheerful tone.

”Right. I'll do just that Jimmy.” Clark replied with a faint smile.

”But I just said...” Jimmy paused, confused.

”See you later Jimmy, I've got work to do.” Clark added, walking towards the records room.

”Bring back a souvenir!” Jimmy yelled after his retreating form.

”If I find time, sure thing!” Clark agreed, expecting Lois to spend any time not sleeping working like a fanatic.

I wonder if I can take time out to meet this 'Joyride' in person? He thought to himself. It would be interesting to meet someone so similar to him. Having someone to talk to about this lifestyle would be a great thing.