Earth-643: Superman Vol.

1
The Son of Tomorrow
Chapter 2: Sometimes
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METROPOLIS // NOW
The bank parking lot had never been so crowded. Police cars surround the large
building, reminiscent of Greco-Roman architecture. Police tape blocks bystanders and the
countless number of news vans and reporters trying to get a piece of the action.
Out of the doors come eight police officers, each dragging along a member of the
Royal Flush Gang. They all still are outfitted in their all black attire, but all of their masks
have been removed. Some look like they just regained consciousness, while others look
infuriated.
Cat Grant stands right outside of the police line, microphone in hand, speaking in
to the camera Jimmy Olsen holds in front of her. She wears a, revealing and tight, pink
pantsuit.
As you can see behind me, the police are now taking the members of the Royal
Flush Gang in to custody. This gang has wreaked havoc across Metropolis and, with the
help of Superman, has finally been served justice. This is Cat Grant, for Planet News.
Andcut! Jimmy says, as he turns the camera off.
Cat struts back to the news van when a woman stops her, Wow, Cat.
Cat turns around to see the woman, another reporter.
The planet sent you down here to jerk off Superman again? the woman crosses
her arms and shifts her weight.
The woman wears a blue button down shirt, beige jacket, matching beige pants,
and brown boots.

We do notjack off Superman, West! At least were not like the star and arent
little pricks that talk bad about metahumans just because youre primarily funded by
billionaire-
Hey! Dont say we sacrifice journalism just because we get a big check from
someone who happens not to be fond of Superman. We just share the same opinion as our
benefactor, the right one.
No youre wrong Iris! Cat gets in Iris face.
Whoa, say it dont spray it Grant. Iris steps back, her auburn hair flipping in to
Cats face.
Oh so this is kindergarten now?
No, Jimmy interjects, This is a post college world girls. Lets act like its one.
Shut-up Olsen! they both demand.
Jimmy lifts his hands up, as if hes being arrested, and walks back to the van.
God I hate you Iris! Cat complains.
Dont worry Cat. Ill be out of here soon enough.
I knowyoure not just going to stay in the parking lot forever. Cat says, as if
Iris is stupid.
No idiot, Iris laughs, Im moving at the end of the month. I got a much better
job at Picture News, out of Central City.
Oh, Cat says sympathetically, Im so glad youre leaving.
Cat turns around and walks away. She gets in to the van and Jimmy pulls off.
Yes!

How do you spell judicial? A voice cries out in the roar of the bullpen.
J U D I C I A L! Lois shouts back.
Thanks!
Sometimes! Lois returns.
Sometimes? Clark asks, looking up from his work at Lois, who types at the grey
metal desk in front of him.
You know how people say anytime after doing a favor? Lois asks, still
working.
Yes.
Well, Im being honest. I probably wont be there to help ANY time, but
sometimes I will be. Like this time.
Hmm. Interesting.
Clark looks down to his work for a second, and then back at Lois, expecting her to
respond. She doesnt. She just sits at her jumbled, unorganized, four cabinet office desk
and types away. Clark just wants to clean it up for her. Papers and files stacked on top of
each other make for an unappealing metaphor of Lois life and her personality. Strangely
fitting, he thinks.
So your, uh, your spelling is getting better.
Lois finally looks back up at Clark, only moving her dark brown eyes.
No, she corrects him, as she flips her shoulder length brown hair out of her face,
White taught me how to spell it for a story a couple days ago. She returns to her article.
Getting back to work, Clark says, Ohokay.

Clark opens his ears to their full capacity, looking for anywhere around the city
that Superman could stop by.
All of it! Get it all out! a high-pitched, shaky, clearly nervous voice orders at
drugstore in Queensland.
Whatchu doin wearing them colors in this neighborhood homie? a
contrastingly deep and confident voice asks in Infers.
Help! a clearly terrified man screams in St. Martins.
Even though Clark hated the idea of letting these crimes go on untouched, he
cant swoop in on everything. Superman is not the police.
Oh crap! Lois exclaims as she jumps out of her seat.
Is something wrong Lois? Clark asks as he jumps to his feet.
Nothing, Im just late to lunch with Lex. She says as she shoves her arms in to
her tan leather jacket.
Oh okay. Hope he doesnt mind you being late.
Clark gawkily sits back down in his seat. Lois flips her hair to the left and flings
her purse up on her right shoulder. She struts out of the room.
See ya Lois! Clark says as she heads out of the bullpen. She doesnt hear him.
A hand slaps down on to Clarks shoulder. Its big and heavy. Clark jumps,
startled by the action. He looks up to see Steve Lombard towering over him. He looks
like he naturally flexes his muscles 100% of the time. He makes his yellow and green
striped t-shirt look like under armor. Clark understands why ladies might like him, but
also see why they wouldnt.
His mustache twitches up and down as he talks, and you cant help but stare at it,
especially when hes in your face. His slicked back brown hair shines like a wooden

spoon, and makes him look like the star of a failed 80s action movie franchise. He
purposely wears tighter khakis and jeans to show off his buns of steel and his bulge.
Its so hard not to look when its at eye level. Not because its attractive or intriguing, but
one just wonders if its real or not. Most of the office thinks he stuffs though. At least
thats what Cat says, and shed be the one to know.
But Clark realizes that the most unappealing thing about the wannabe player is his
personality. Arrogant and cocky is not attractive, and even if it were, Lombard wouldnt
wear it well.
I dont know why youre trying so hard Kent. Lombard says as he stares at
Lois.
Uh, What? Clark asks, honestly confused.
You obviously have a boner for Lois Lane. He says.
And you obviously have a boner! Or at least, try to look like you have one. the
voice of a young man attacks.
Lombard and Clark turn around to see Jimmy Olsen walking up to them. His
unbuttoned red shirt flows behind him, revealing the white t-shirt he wears under. His
camera hangs from around his neck, right above his jeans.
Why do you always get involved with everything Olsen? This is an A and B
conversation, Lombard turns around to completely face Olsen, C your way out.
Lombard rolls his eyes and turns back to Clark.
This is a newspaper, not a 3rd grade class room, Jimmy taps Lombard on the
shoulder causing him to turn around again, Get some new punch lines.
Ill show ya a punch line!

Lombard reels back his bowling ball of a fist and sends it rocketing towards
Jimmys face.
Suddenly, time slows down. Rather, Clark speeds up, moving at a pace no human
brain could process fast enough to notice. Clark slightly taps Lombards fist, turning it
towards Lombards own face.
He returns to his seat and to a normal speed, as Lombards fist smashes into his
own face. Lombard falls back on to Clarks desk. Clark jumps up, trying to avoid the
Sasquatch from reigning down on top of him. Lombard bounces off of the desk and slams
to the ground.
Jimmy places his hands on his head and strokes them backwards. His mouth drops
as he laughs at Lombards accident.
Oh my gosh Steve! Clark says, Are you alright?
Lombard gets up to his feet saying, Im fine Kent.
Lombard walks away as blood begins to trickle down from his nose.
How do you do that? Jimmy asks.
What? Clark asks, afraid Jimmy saw him.
Punch yourself in the face.
Jimmy continues to laugh.
Oh, ha. Uh, I dont know. I would assume he usually knows where his fist is
aiming.
Punny!
Jimmy winks at Clark and walks away.
Punny?

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KANDOR // 28 (EARTH) YEARS AGO

Kryptonians lined the huge crater in the earth in front of them. For miles back
people from all over Krypton had came to see it. Where Kandor was before the
disappearance. People stood in shock, sadness, anger, confusion, and disbelief.
One man, wearing a large cloak, walked out in to the crater. His countenance was
one of horror and great lost. All of the Kryptonians stared at him as he walked out. His
pace was slow, as if half of him wanted to go all the way, and the other half didnt. He
clenched his right hand to his heart as a tear crawled out of his eye and down his cheek.
I stood in the crowd, pushing forward to see the man the people were now
whispering about. No one dared to go in to the crater. No one even thought of doing it,
and for some reason they were too scared to follow after him. I paid close attention to the
man. Something wasnt right.
The man reached the center of the crater and dropped to his knees. He turned up
towards the sky and let out a scream.
GREAT RAO!
The man began to weep on his hands and knees. People were even more enticed
by the mans actions. Some were feeling sympathetic and cried with him. Some of the
spectators scoffed at him, seeing him as pathetic. Most just stood in shock because of
what had happened here. I started to walk out after the man when Alura Zee-El, wife of
Zor-El, stopped him.

Jor-El! What are you doing? Dont go out there. He could be dangerous. Alura
tried to convince me.
Exactly.
I lightly jogged in to the crater to get to the man. The attention of the people
averted to me. I paid them no attention. I had one mission and it didnt involve them.
Once I got halfway to the man, the man reached in to his cloak and laid down a
box. The box had a whole in all six sides. It was black, with an intricate red design on the
edges. The man began to mumble something. I couldnt recognize the language.
Sir. Sir! I shouted as I began to speed up.
He finished mumbling and the wholes begin to glow a golden color. They became
brighter and brighter every second. The people watching began to step back, some
running away. I was the only one crazy enough to run towards him.
Deactivate the box! I shout.
The man turned to me, his eyes glowing red. His skin began to turn a green color
and his hair began to shed off. His fingers turned to claws, his toes turned to talons, and
his teeth turned in to knifes.
He ripped off his cloak to reveal a red suit of armor. Black wings sprouted out of
his back as he screamed, FOR DARKSEID!!!!
Ping, Ping, Ping.
A sudden flash followed by a wave of energy expelled from the box, and I was
taken off of my feet.

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