The door to the large metal box opened shortly after the sun rose that morning. As the door creaked open, the sunlight hit Tommy, who covered his eyes after having been living in darkness for the last two days. He curled up into a ball like a caged animal as he moaned from being so cramped.
"Come on Tommy, he said you can come out," Tommy's older brother Huck said as he kneeled down and looked around before sliding a handkerchief containing some food toward him. Huck was a good foot taller, with an open plaid shirt and blue jeans and brown boots. He had long stringy brown hair that hung down in his eyes, where he quickly brushed it away. Of all Tommy's brothers, Huck was always the kindest towards him. "I know I could get in trouble for this, so eat it quick. You gotta finish your work, bro. There won't be another chance. The King won't let you fail again."
"Come on Tommy, he said you can come out," Tommy's older brother Huck said as he kneeled down and looked around before sliding a handkerchief containing some food toward him. Huck was a good foot taller, with an open plaid shirt and blue jeans and brown boots. He had long stringy brown hair that hung down in his eyes, where he quickly brushed it away. Of all Tommy's brothers, Huck was always the kindest towards him. "I know I could get in trouble for this, so eat it quick. You gotta finish your work, bro. There won't be another chance. The King won't let you fail again."
ISSUE #14 (May 2018)
Written by Tobias Christopher Featuring: Superman
Superboy
Conner Kent
Lois Lane
Chris Kent
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"THE KING OF FABLES - PART ONE"The Fortress of Solitude
"Okay, Chris, let's see if this works," Superman said as he handed Chris a hearing-aid type device that fit behind his ear. "Say something." Chris started speaking in Kryptonian, which slowly started converting to English, although his words were coming out with Australian accent. "... Hope this works, Pa. Hey, I can speak Earthican! Why am I talking like this?" "There must me something wrong with the wiring that's making you speak in Australian," Superman said. "I can have it fixed and--" "No, no, I like this," Chris smiled. "Australia must be an awesome place if they all talk like this. It makes me stand out, I think I'll keep it." "Okay," Superman smiled. "It's your call, son. We should head back to the farm soon. Jon will be heading home from school shortly, and with Lois in England, I don't want him coming home to an empty house." "Connor's not home?" "He's spending the day in Metropolis with his lady friend," Superman told him. "I'm glad he's not letting the loss of his powers keep him down and getting out there to meet new friends." Metropolis Connor was having lunch with Alice, with the two getting to know each other and having a good time while Connor was in town. "I'm glad you called," Alice said as she smiled at Connor. "It's good to have a friend in this city." "I hope you have a lot more," Connor told her. "I'm glad you took my call. A beautiful lady like you is probably going to have a lot of guys asking you out." "Luckily the only guy I wanted to call got to me first," Alice said as Connor blushed. Alice's cellphone suddenly started going off. "You going to get that?" Connor asked. "I'm sure that it's not important," Alice said as she grabbed his hand. Jon returned home to the farmhouse, immediately discarding his glasses, backpack and shoes at the front door, glad to be able to slip out of the guise of Jonathon Kent: Schoolboy for another night. Landing on the couch, Jon grabbed the remote, turning on the t.v. as his cell phone rang. "Jonathan Samuel Kent, you'd better not be lounging around in your school clothes," Lois lectured. "What? How did--?" "A mother knows. Now turn off the t.v., change your clothes and go get a healthy snack before you do your homework," Lois told him while taking a cab down the streets of London. "Yes, Ma'am," Jon sighed as he turned off the t.v. "How's London? Did you meet the Queen?" "She'll be at her Yoga class during the interview, so it'll just be and the future King," Lois told him. "Will you be okay home alone until your father comes back?" "Barring any Phantom Zone creeps showing up," Jon said as a knock came at the door. Jon's eyes widened, hoping that what he just wasn't about to happen. Looking through the peephole in the door, he saw Tommy on the other side. "It's my friend Tommy. Can I let him in? My homework won't take long, I promise." "Okay, but just the one friend, and I want to meet this Tommy when I come home," Lois said. "I'm about to head into a tunnel, I'll call you later. Love you." "Love you, too, Mom," Jon said as he hung up and opened the door. "Hey, Tommy. You look tired. Are you okay?" "Just haven't been sleeping well," Tommy said. "Come on in, I just gotta change and do my homework real quick, then we can hang out," Jon said. "Have a seat on the couch, I'll be back down in a few minutes." Chris was exploring the Fortress, taking in all of its wonders. "So everything here is a tribute to the House of El?" "Pretty much," Superman said as he saw a sad look on Chris's face. "What's wrong, son?" "The House of Zod's legacy has nothing but evil to show for it," Chris said. "All my father is known for is cruel acts and attempts to conquer everything. And now that I've been disowned, that legacy ends with Zod." "You're wrong," Superman said. "The House of Zod did produce one good, one very special thing: You. You are the single best thing to come from General Zod, and I have all the confidence in the world that you will be the start of something better, something brighter. House of El, or House of Zod, you will do great things, Chris. You have a good heart." "Thanks, Pa," Chris smiled. "Five more minutes of exploring, then we'll head home," Superman told him as he headed back to the main chamber, leaving Chris to explore on his own. "It is an honor to be here," Lois said as she was led into the palace lounge, where the seventeen-year-old Prince was waiting for the interview. "Mrs. Lane, it is I who am honored by your presence," Prince Frederick said as he kissed her hand. He was tall, handsome, and sported a hair of wavy brown hair. "You are very renowned in your field. I've read as many of your stories as I could. I chose you for this interview because you've always been a fair and balanced reporter, and I wish for my story to be given to the world truthfully." "And so it shall," Lois said as she got her recorder and notepad out. "Let's start at the beginning. I hope it's not a sore subject, but before we get to you officially coming out tt he world--" "My parent's untimely deaths," Frederick said. "I've been trying to prepare for that question since they died, leaving me next in line for the crown when Grandmother passes on the crown. Me and my younger brother, Vigo, have never stopped thinking about them. We miss them every day, and I wish my father was still alive to take the crown instead of me. He was a far more deserving person than I'll ever be." As Frederick talked, a gunshot rang out, barely missing his head. Lois quickly grabbed him and pushed him to the ground as more shots rang out. "Stay down, your highness!" Lois said as the security guards rushed into the room. Connor walked Alice back to her apartment building, holding her hand as they arrived. "Well, here we are, home safe and sound. Just like I promised," Connor told her. "Do you think I could... see you again soon? Like maybe tomorrow night?" "I'd like that," Alice said. "Goodnight, Connor." Connor was about to turn to walk away when the two of them shared a gentle kiss. "There, homework is done," Jon said as he slammed the book shut. "Sorry it took so long, Tommy. Algebra's a beast." "It's okay," Tommy said as he stood up. "So, you wanna hang out... at my place?" "Cool," Jon said as he put his books into his backpack. "Just gotta get my shoes on and--" "Or you could go without," Tommy said. "I do it all the time. Not even sure if I even own a pair of shoes anymore." "Yeah, I was gonna ask you about that," Jon told him. "Is your family poor? I mean, not making fun of you or anything, but I've got some stuff you could have that I don't wear anymore. Clothes, shoes, some old storybooks. I got the deluxe edition of Mark Twain stories, so I don't need the single paperbacks anymore. You like Tom Sawyer?" "Better get going before it gets dark," Tommy said nervously as he grabbed Jon's hand. "My father gets upset if I stay out too late." Jon quickly wrote a note and left it on the counter, telling his father where he was going. "Okay, let's roll." Superman and Chris were sitting on top of the Fortress, watching the Northern Lights in the distance. "It's beautiful," Chris whispered. "The Phantom Zone didn't have anything like this." "Welcome to Earth, son," Superman said as he put an arm around Chris's shoulder. "I hope you get to see a lot more of what this world has to offer." "So, this is your place?" Jon asked as he looked at the old shack. "How do you and your brothers sleep in there?" "We share a room," Tommy admitted sadly as he looked at Jon. "Maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe we should go back to your house." "You shouldn't be ashamed that your family's poor, Tommy," Jon told him. "I don't care where you come from, you're a really good friend. I told you, I've got stuff you and your brothers can have to make this place a little better." "Why are you being so nice to me?" Tommy asked. "'Cause you're my friend," Jon admitted. "Friends do things for each other. And I wanna do nice things for you, 'cause you've been nice to me." "Jon, we need to go, right now," Tommy said, his voice cracking. Before he could grab Jon's hand, Tommy's older brothers showed up, grabbing both boys on the shoulder. The door to the shack opened as the older man in the white suit walked out with a cane. He had white hair and a goatee, smoking a pipe as he laughed. "Good work, Tommy," the man said. "You brought me the final chess piece that I need. " "Chess piece?" Jon asked. "Tommy, what's he talking about?" "I'm so sorry, Jon," Tommy said as he tears fell down his eyes. "I'm sorry." "Tim, do your thing," the King of Fables said as a boy using a crutch to walk approached Jon. "The hell with this," Jon said as he broke free of Huck's grip. "I'm out of--" Tim put a hand on Jon's forehead, causing Jon to fall into a trance. "You're one of us, now," Tim told him. "Welcome to the Lost Boys." |
"Got you!" Clark shouted as he grabbed the third rat after it had come into view. Carefully removing the marker from its back, Clark released it and watched it scamper off into the cave. "Finally, now to go show those clowns that they can't keep Clark Kent down. Just have to find my way out of here."
"Be sure to set the charges in places where it'll look like a natural cave-in," Larry said. "Kent will never find his way out." "I don't know, isn't this a bit... extreme?" Ronald asked. "We just want him to leave our sister alone, not kill him." "He's a dirty farmboy, do you want that tainting our family name?" Alvin asked. "The cave-in won't kill him, he'll still have an air supply. He'll just be trapped forever in here." Pete and Whitney were listening in from not too far away. "DId you hear that?" Pete asked. "What do we do?" "They're too big to take on by hand," Whitney said. "We'll grab the charges after they set them and make sure they can't be set off. " "What about Clark?" "Clark's smart, he's probably already on his way out now," Whitney told him. "But just in case, we need to make sure he's not buried alive." At the cave entrance, Lana found Pete's backpack with Clark's things in it, wondering if he'd gone inside. "Exploring without getting to use my powers sucks," Clark said to himself as he continued wandering the cave. "I really should use my x-ray vision, but.. no. I promised I wouldn't. I have to do this for Lana." Clark's hearing suddenly picked up the voices of Lana's brothers from a short distance away. Super-hearing was always one of the few powers he couldn't control. He could hear them talking about setting off charges in the cave. "So, I'm dealing with cheaters, huh?" Clark asked himself. "Got another one," Whitney said. "How many more are there?" "I don't know," Pete told him. "I think they want to make it a huge cave-in. But there can't be too many more, right?" "What the hell are you doing?" Larry asked as he grabbed Pete's arm. "Looks like we got a little troublemaker." "Yeah, I'm the troublemaker," Pete said sarcastically. "Hey!" Whitney shouted as he was about to race over when Alvin grabbed him from behind. "I can't believe they let a scrawny little twig like you play football," Alvin laughed. "What do you think, brothers? Think Kent could use some company when the explosion goes off?" "We didn't bring any rope, though," Ronald said as he looked at Pete. "Better break their legs just to be safe. Let's start with that one. I've been wanting to break this nerd in half for a long time." The anger in Whitney built up until he couldn't take it anymore. He stomped on Alvin's foot before elbowing him in the gut, forcing the bigger man to drop him. As he ran toward Pete, Ronald tried to block him but Whitney mowed him down with the move he used on the football field. "Let him go!" Whitney shouted. "You want him? Go fetch!" Larry said as he pushed Pete into a small chasm. While Whitney went to try to help him, the three brothers started to run. "Get ready to blow this place!" Larry shouted. As the trio rushed away, Lana was coming in from a different entrance, seeing Whitney trying to reach Pete. "What's going on?" Lana asked. "Your dickhole brothers are going to cause a cave-in!" Whitney told her. "We have to get Pete out and find Clark before the whole place goes up! Pete, take my hand!" Pete made a few attempts to jump and grab Whitney's hand, finally getting in on the third try. Whitney held on tight and pulled Pete up with Lana's help. "Thanks," Pete said as he hugged Whitney. "We gotta find Clark." "I'm right here," Clark said, having rounded up all the charges but one, burying them deep within the cave where an explosion wouldn't cause too much damage. "Is everyone okay?" "Yeah, but this place is going to blow any second," Whitney told him. "We have to go." "Lead the way, I'll be glad to see daylight again," Clark told them as he followed Whitney to the door, just as the one charge Clark missed went off right over Lana. "NO!" Pete shouted as he pushed Lana out of the way, being hit with debris. When the smoke and dust cleared, Pete was halfway buried under a ton of rock and rubble. "Whitney, Lana, go get help!" Clark shouted. "I'll stay here with Pete!" As the other two rushed out, Clark checked Pete's pulse. "It's going to be okay, buddy. I promise." "Am I going to die?" Pete asked weakly with his eyes closed. "Not on my watch," Clark promised as he made sure no one was looking as he used a combination of speed and strength to unbury Pete and pull him out. "I'm not leaving my best friend behind." "I think your brothers took off," Whitney said to Lana as they waited for the ambulance. "Think they'll skip town?" "They'll wait until the heat is off," Lana told him. "Clark's really lucky to have you and Pete looking out for him." "That's what friends do," Whitney told her as he smiled. "Me and Pete are still good. Truthfully, I'm glad we're not getting together. Me and Pete work better as best buddies than boyfriends anyway." "So you are gay?" "I don't know," Whitney told her. "Maybe I need to put myself out there and find out, date both girls and guys to see which one I prefer." "We're all behind you on this," Lana said as she hugged him. "We'll help you however we-- I think I see Clark coming!" Clark was carrying Pete out of the cave, covered in dust. "How did you--?" "Adrenaline rush," Clark said. "I think Pete's going to be okay, we just have to get him checked out." Smallville General Hospital "We've go an APB out on the Lang Brothers," Sheriff Welling said. "We'll bring them in for questioning." "I'm sorry, Pa," Clark said as he sat in the waiting room with his parents. "For what, son?" "I-- i used my powers when I said I wouldn't," Clark told them. "I used them to get rid of the bombs and pull Pete out. I had no choice." "You made the right decision," Jonathon told him. "You did what you had to save your friends, that's all that matters. Not using your powers was your decision, and it was your decision the whole time when you could use them again, no one else's. You saw your friends were in danger and you acted. We're both very proud of you." Soon, the Kents, Lana, Whitney, and Pete's parents were all waiting for the doctor to come out. "Pete is awake," the doctor said. "You can see him one at a time. He's asked to speak with Clark first." "Pete?" Clark asked as he knocked on the door. Pete was sitting up, crying. He had a few cuts and bruised, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. "How are you feeling, buddy?" "I can't feel my legs, Clark," Pete said. "I'm paralyzed." TO BE CONTINUED... |