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Perry White looked over the proofs for the next edition of The Daily Planet. Today's headline read ‘LEXCORP STOCK FRAUD EXPOSED'.

“I hate slow news days,” said Perry. He took a gulp of coffee and grimaced. “Olsen! Get in here!”

Jimmy Olsen ran within seconds, his camera dangling from his neck. “Where to, Chief?”

“Tell Davis down in Purchasing to stop buying that damn crap he calls coffee!” yelled Perry. “If I wanted to drink swill, I'd get my coffee from The Ace O' Clubs.”

Jimmy's expression changed. “Yes, Chief, I'll tell him.” He was hoping with Clark Kent and Lois Lane off enjoying time with their new baby girl Chloe, that he might get a chance at new and exciting stories as they came in. Finally, he would have a big break…if only Perry got a good cup of coffee.

Jimmy moved to leave the office and head down to Purchasing, when the entire building shook. Desks slid from their positions, shelves fell over. The walls cracked as electrical wiring sparked and shorted out. The ceiling panels collapsed, with beams following shortly after. Jimmy fell back into Perry's office to see the Editor In Chief fall himself towards a shattered window. That's when Jimmy realized…the building was on an angle, and tipping fast.

Jimmy grabbed a support pole to stop his fall and reached to grab Perry, who was sliding towards the open window. Perry didn't make a sound, but reached out to grab anything to stop his fall. His hand made contact with Jimmy's as he began to tip over the edge of the window sill.

“Hold on, Chief!” said Jimmy. He strained to keep his hold on his own support. It was beginning to give as he and Perry stopped their descent. Below them, the streets of Metropolis could be partly seen. The building was tipping towards the others across the street.

Just then, a humanoid that looked barely human floated before them. “You are the friends of Kal-El,” said the grotesque man, his voice sounded like ripping paper. His skin was ripped in hundreds of places, his skeleton elongated and is face…his face had the skin pulled back to reveal the muscles beneath. On his chest, the man wore the symbol of the United States Army, one of the few tatters of clothing that still clung to him. “We have plans for you.”

“Great Caesar's Ghost,” said Perry quietly to himself. “Where the hell is Superman?!”

 

DC Infinity Presents

#13

‘SOLARIS STRIKES – PART THREE'

By Mike Hintze

 

“Solaris.”

Everyone in the room looked up and gave their attention to the man they all admired and respected like no other. He was the pinnacle of heroism, the example all others followed. He was Superman.

“Solaris is a sentient machine that is essentially a solar computer engine. We first became aware of its existence when the Justice Legion A came back in time from the 853 rd century to enlist the Justice League's aid in celebrating the return of…well, me…back to Earth after a long absence living within the Earth's sun. Solaris was known then as the most dangerous and unrelenting of my enemies in history. However, in the 853 rd century Solaris was now an ally, reprogrammed to act as a benevolent force for humanity, providing sunlight and life-giving energy to the outer reaches of the solar system. Turned out though, Solaris wasn't as reprogrammed as was thought. A member of the Justice Legion, Hourman, was unknowingly infected with a nanovirus that caused all technology and organic life on present-day Earth to fail…but the cure was also provided with the virus itself. The League had to create a device that could stop the nanovirus…that device, however, itself became Solaris when the nanovirus was halted, and became the operating system for Solaris, making the tyrant sun its own creator in a kind of temporal loop. The League stopped Solaris when the future Starman sent it through a black hole…. destroying it, we thought.”

Superman paused. “We now know that Solaris has survived, recovering from wherever the black hole had sent him. He has made moves of late, moves that were unclear to everyone until recently. One of those moves was the death of someone close to me. If Solaris is coming to Earth…we'll stand ready for him. We'll stop him.”

“We'll destroy him,” said Batman, standing in the shadows. The Dark Knight stood beside Superman. “Solaris' existence ends here. The future is not set in stone…not for us. Solaris may become the biggest villain in history…but if we stop him here and now, he'll be nothing but a footnote.”

The assembled heroes around the room were perhaps the most impressive seen in modern times. Superman, Batman, Nightwing, the Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, the Phantom Stranger, Jason Blood, Zatanna, Ralph Dibny the Elongated Man, Liandra the Fallen Angel, Firestorm and Green Arrow were at the front of the grouping. Behind them, many more heroes had answered the call of the Justice League. Hawkman, Black Canary, Booster Gold, Fire, Huntress, The Ray, The Flash, Agent Liberty, Power Girl, Obsidian, Plastic Man, and Steel all stood ready.

“We can't forget,” said Ralph Dibny, “That Solaris has taken Ray Palmer under his control with one of those Swarm scarabs. We have to try and save him.” Ralph's face began to ooze like dough. He realized it a second later and pushed his pliable skin back in place. “Ray would never have left this universe after his wife killed mine if we had been more open with him….if I had been more open.”

“We can't change the past,” said Superman reassuringly, “But we can do the best we can to save Ray. He's a Leaguer. One of our best. His safety will be our highest priority.”

“First thing's first,” said Green Arrow. “Solaris had been screwing with things here to soften us up, mainly you, Superman.” He fingered his bow. “That means he's not here yet. He's so freaking big we'd know if he was. Therefore, we need to take the fight to him before he comes to Earth.”

“Once Solaris realizes we are coming for him,” said Martian Manhunter, “He will let his local forces here wreak havoc. Therefore, we should split into two teams. One Earth-based and one space-based.”

“Agreed,” said Aquaman. “We need to be ready for his retaliatory strike.”

“History says the League was not there to stop Solaris,” said Walker Gabriel, aka Chronos. “Yet, here the League is.”

“Here,” said the Phantom Stranger, “The future is not yet written. Here, true change can be made. Your presence alone in this time may have changed the outcome you knew.”

“But it doesn't mean Solaris won't win,” said Chronos. “And your words about not changing the past, Superman….they may not be as true as you think.” He lifted his right arm, revealing a technological gauntlet. “This is what I traveled here through time with. If we go far enough back….maybe we can change all of this. Stop Solaris at the beginning of his return.”

“You mean….change the past,” said Superman. He was deeply considering that option. His own father, Jonathan Kent, had been killed on orders by the Cyborg Superman on orders from Solaris. “Undo the damage he did.”

“Hold it a second,” said Batman. “Time travel and messing with timelines never ends well. You know that, Superman.”

“Perhaps the past cannot be changed,” said Jason Blood, “But….perhaps it can be added to?”

“What do you mean?” asked Liandra.

“Let me explain,” said Jason.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Supergirl was one busy girl.

She was lifting and supporting the massive weight of LexCorp Tower as it teetered on edge against the Daily Planet. Even with her super-speed, she was hard-pressed to keep up with the destruction. Inhuman beings with immense strength were the cause of this chaos, and they all wanted the same thing: Superman.

Below, Jose Delgado, aka Gangbuster, was trying to evacuate as many people as possible from the shadowed area beneath the buildings. Masonry was falling all around. Several other buildings in the area had been totally destroyed, but these two were directed towards one another, almost as a display of some kind. Gangbuster was still only human at heart, and he knew he could not be the force that saved Metropolis this day. Supergirl was occupied. They needed Superman.

Gangbuster turned to see a grotesque man wearing what looked like shredded marine fatigues. His skin was mottled and his face had the skin pulled into knots, his beady eyes barely visible, his teeth fully exposed like a clown's grin.

“You seek to help?” said the creature. “Our master needs help. You are an ally of the Superman? The Kryptonian Kal-El?”

Gangbuster drew his nunchuks. “Damn right I am.”

“Excellent,” said the creature.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The League were all discussing their tactical options within the underground basement that was the former home to the Outsiders beneath the Wayne Foundation when a seemingly normal man entered the room.

“Sirs,” said Alfred Pennyworth, “You need to see this.” He clicked a remote and a big-screen came down from the ceiling. Playing on it was the Metropolis News from WGBS.

“….chaos reigns here in downtown Metropolis, as strange alien creatures wreak untold destruction. Dozens of lives have been lost, and still the question on everyone's minds is….where is Superman?”

Superman's face went white. An instant later, he was gone.

“All right everyone,” said Batman, “Metropolis! Now!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Windows were blown apart between Gotham City and Metropolis as Superman blew the sound barrier to smithereens. Heat cascaded off his body as friction acted in his passing. He stopped in mid-air above Metropolis, scanning the surroundings to get a better idea of what he was facing.

There. The Daily Planet Building and LexCorp Plaza were tipped towards each other, one supporting the other. One was going to give. They would have collapsed by now if not for Supergirl holding them up. His vision touched on the Daily Planet globe….and his heart felt like it skipped a beat.

Gangbuster was nailed to the top of the globe with pieces of shrapnel. He rushed down to see to his friend and ally. Gangbuster was still breathing, but barely.

His voice was weak. “Look---look out.”

Superman turned. Standing above them on the tip of the LexCorp ‘L' was a misshapen creature with a skeletal smile. On various outcroppings around them all were other creatures that were similar in shape yet very different. All of them had their faces turned towards Superman.

“Kal-El,” said the largest of them, “I am the Flesh Artist….these, my Seven Soldiers. Lord Solaris sends his regards.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Supergirl was losing the fight. She couldn't keep up this support for much longer….both buildings were going to give out. Plus, she could now hear the sounds of a battle on the other side of the buildings, one which was involving her cousin, Superman. He was here.

“Hold on, Supergirl!” came a voice from below her. She looked down and saw the Martian Manhunter and Liandra the Fallen Angel lending their strength to the effort.

“The buildings are evacuated,” said the Manhunter, “At least, as much as they're going to be.” He produced a metal box that he flung out into the open space between the buildings. “A little something from Steel's lab,” he said. “He said it wasn't designed for this, but it should do in a pinch.” The box flashed with white light and produced a forcefield that wedged itself between the buildings below the heroes.

“Now, let's—“ said Liandra, but he had no time to finish before Supergirl was gone. “Hm,” she said, “So that's Supergirl now.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Man of Steel screamed as the Seven Soldiers laid their hands upon him. His invulnerability seemed to negate their warping touch, but it hurt worse than kryptonite. It was all he could do to keep upright. The last he had felt pain like this was when he had met a man named Tim Zanetti….

“Let him go!” thundered a voice from above. The Flesh Artist turned his head to see two fists plow into him, sending him reeling. Supergirl didn't stop there, moving to the others that were upon Superman like ants on their prey.

One of the Seven Soldiers reached out with surprising speed and grabbed Supergirl by the neck. She screamed in pain….then the Soldier ignited in red-hot flame from Supergirl's heat vision. He released her, howling in pain as his skin melted.

The others then leaped away from Superman and piled on Supergirl. She fought savagely, firing heat vision, but the battle was a losing one. Suddenly, green flame surrounded the Soldiers, sending them all screaming away from Supergirl.

Above the fight, stood Batman and Fire. “Hit them again!” said Batman. “Don't let up!”

Fire concentrated as her flames surrounded and maintained a perimeter on the Soldiers. Despite their amazing strength, they seemed especially vulnerable to heat. Batman leaped down to Superman.

“You damn fool,” said Batman, “You know better than to charge into something like this.”

“They—They work for Solaris,” said Superman. “I'm getting my strength back, Bruce. Just a few more seconds.”

“They won't have them,” said Batman. “We've encountered these things before, or rather, things like them. The human hosts they've inhabited are long dead.” He looked up to Fire. “Beatriz, incinerate them!”

Fire looked down in surprise. “Kill them? But—“

“They're not truly alive!” yelled Batman. “Burn them to ashes!”

Fire swallowed and then focused back on the Soldiers below. She increased the heat being generated until it was nearly that of a sun. Superman grabbed Batman and flew them to the sky, away from the heat. The ball of fire ignited, vaporizing the Soldiers. A keen wailing could be heard as they disappeared.

Nearby, the Martian Manhunter held the unconscious Gangbuster, freed from his bonds. The heat was having its own effect on the Martian, who moved farther away from the scene.

Liandra came up by the Manhunter. “How's he doing?” she asked.

“I'm not sure,” said Manhunter, “I still sense pain in his thoughts….but he should live. He needs medical attention.”

“Metropolis General is this way,” said Liandra. “Follow me.”

Atop the two tipped buildings, Superman went to Supergirl. “Are you all right, Kara?”

“Yes,” said Supergirl. “What about you? And where is Karen?”

“She's….elsewhere,” said Batman. “We'd better get you both looked at.”

“I'll be fine,” said Superman. “Where's the leader? He was knocked away by Kara.”

“Firestorm,” said Batman into a communicator, “Did you track a hostile heading away from us?”

“ Yeah ,” said Firestorm, “ But he disappeared. I lost sight of him .”

“Dammit,” said Batman. “We need to find him. If he's a Rifter, he could start this all over again.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Across Metropolis, the Flesh Artist had masked his appearance enough to blend in with the populace. It took effort, but his human shell was a remarkably strong one. Gary Nathaniel was a soldier, and one that had experienced much pain and loss before encountering a Rifter.

He looked up at the apartment building he had come to. His quarry lived here. The mate and spawn of Kal-El were here, just as Monarch had told him they would be. Solaris' campaign against the Kryptonian would be continued….in the final loss of his remaining family.

The Flesh Artist walked up to the main door, but was met by a stylishly garbed doorman. “I'm sorry, sir,” said the doorman, “But may I ask which apartment you would like me to page? We don't allow unannounced visitors.” He smiled, but that soon faded when he saw the face of the man before him shift and writhe.

“That's all right,” said the Flesh Artist as he punched his fist through the doorman. “I'd prefer to remain unannounced.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reality warped, shuddered and flashed with a bright light. In an instant, four individuals were left in the light's wake. Chronos, Huntress, Booster Gold, Steel, Plastic Man, Jason Blood, the Flash and Power Girl appeared.

“We made it,” said Chronos as he scanned his chronal compass. “This is the Justice League Watchtower, shortly after the arrival of the Justice Legion A to our timeline.”

“The Watchtower was the only place free of the Solaris infection,” said Plastic Man. “Zauriel, Steel, Huntress, Barda, Orion and myself were aboard while the others were in the far future. John was here, too….but with the future JLA trying to break into the Watchtower.”*

(*See DC One Million! – Time-Hopping Mike)

“No one can know we're here,” said Steel. “Remember what Blood said. We can't change the past, but we can add to it.”

“I have already woven a concealment spell,” said Jason Blood. “We are undetectable, but the spell is not one that can be prolonged. We must hurry.”

“The creation of Solaris was detailed in the JLA databanks,” said Flash. An experienced time-traveller, John Fox knew as well as anyone what could and could not be done with the timestream. “We're minutes away from the current team completing the creation of the tyrant sun.”

“Then let's boogie,” said Booster. “Time's a-wasting….no pun intended.”

“Who are you kidding,” said Power Girl, “Of course there was.”

“Yeah, okay,” said Booster, “You got me there.”

“Can we go?” said Flash. “This is just a bit too weird to see myself in the past but still in my future….Steel, lead the way.” The Leaguers headed away from their landing area and towards an uncertain future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Superman of the 853 rd Century looked over the hastily drawn up plans. “Solaris wants ultimate revenge; the complete destruction of the Superman Dynasty. That's why he's forcing us to create him!” He looked at Steel. “Your time engine wouldn't have taken you any further than a few thousand years in either direction, Steel, but its power can be used to activate our enemy's quantum softdrive.”

Steel watched as the combined talents of the remaining JLA members and those of Justice Legion A worked. “I've been thinking about that; where did ‘Solaris' expect to find this kind of energy?”

Superman gave Steel a wry look. “You're a smart man, Steel. Batman was thinking the very same thing: the obvious choices would be: Green Lantern's power ring, maybe? Or….Starman's Gravity Rod.”

At that moment, the future Starman walked into the room, gravity rod in hand, holding a green fragment. “Sorry I didn't answer the alert. Family business.” He looked at everyone staring back at him. “Why is everyone….staring….”

The future Batman pointed at Starman menacingly. “Starman! I accuse you of betraying the Legion, the System and the Commonwealth of Humanity ! So why don't you tell us exactly what the Knight Fragment is….”

The time-travelling Justice League members watched in wonder, cloaked from detection. “Batman is going to kick Starman's ass….then have him act as the power source to activate Solaris,” said Steel. “We won't have long to do what we need to.”

“Damn,” said Plastic Man, “I look goooood!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later

“Disengage power feedlines.”

“Open hydrogen tap tesseract gates.”

“Activate proton fusion processors.”

“Fiat Lux.”

The Wonder Woman of the 853 rd Century was shocked at what they had created. “Scared Aphrodite!” she said, “What have we done?”

The shell of Solaris floated off into space, not far from the Earth's moon and the Watchtower. Solar flame cascaded around it, almost expectantly, as if it knew what was coming.

“Pray we've saved the 20 th Century, Wonder Woman,” said Superman.

Steel looked at Superman. “What made you trust him?” He was referring to Starman, who had opted to use his Gravity Rod to activate Solaris. “How can you be sure what he'll do with that weapon?”

Batman stared straight ahead. “Two Face Two was finally cured when the second Batman proved to him that, coin toss by coin toss, he'd made more good choices than evil ones. Statistics.” He crossed his arms at the spectacle of Solaris being born. “Long story, short answer: Expect the good to win out.”

Bright streamers of light flowed from the Earth, futuristic virus-code that had threatened to kill all life on the planet. It rushed into space and into the shell that was Solaris.

Solaris began to think. “00111000111000100011….I….AM….SOLARIS….001101100011011….I AM SELF AWARE. PLASMA VENT IMMINENT.”

The tyrant sun was seconds old and already was planning its first strike against Earth. It would have succeeded….were it not for Starman.

The cosmic protector flew at the tyrant sun, squeezing the electrons deep within the evil star. A black hole erupted, sucking in all, even light. Solaris had bare seconds to realize its plight, when it was sucked in itself. It was followed by Starman, then everything erupted in light.

What no one saw, was that Solaris was not alone when it was activated. Within, protected in a mystical and technological shield, was an addition put there by members of the Justice League from much closer in the future.

When Solaris awoke in its new home and began to rebuild itself, all would progress as it had….until it was too late for the tyrant sun.

“It has to work,” said Chronos with the others as they re-entered the timestream.

“It has to.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next Issue: Solaris Strikes – Part Four….