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Volume 2: Issue 1

Superman: The Man of Steel

#5

"Absolution"

By Tony Thornley

A concussion wave from sixty feet above the water's surface caused the Atlantic Ocean to froth and flow. Almost a second later a body hit the water, followed by a blue, yellow and red streak. Within another second, they were in the air again.

"WHY?!" Clark Kent screamed, shaking Hank Henshaw, the Cyborg Superman. "WHY DID YOU KILL MY FATHER?!" The sheer volume of Superman's voice caused the waves to writhe again, almost as angry as the Man of Steel himself. Henshaw smiled through what remained of his biological lips. The villain had posed as Clark for several weeks, and had framed him for his father's murder months ago. He had just admitted to the crime, allowing Clark the opportunity to face him at last.

"Solaris," he muttered. "The tyrant sun is coming, Kal-El. He wanted Superman out of the way."

"And you got cocky," Clark growled. "Thought you could get past me and wouldn't get caught." His eyes began to glow red, energy starting to spill from his eyes. "You underestimated us."

"Quite to the contrary, Kent," he said. "You were out of the way for exactly what we wanted. You were infected with a virus that slowed your solar absorption. You weren't able to save your father. Had you been active, you would have reformed the League. Instead, we've destroyed the Justice League all over again."

"Who are 'we?'" Clark asked.

"Myself and Monarch. We've ruined everything the League stood for, all over again."

"I doubt that."

"Don't underestimate us," Cyborg barked. He blasted Clark with his heat vision, catching the Man of Steel off-guard. He caught himself, but the Cyborg had already rocketed away. He popped his neck and flew in pursuit. He was headed southeast, towards Africa. He put on an extra burst of speed, narrowing the gap between the two as the African coast grew large. He slammed into Henshaw's back, throwing him to the ground and creating a large crater in the soft, black African soil. He stood, the mechanical bottom half of his face revealed completely, giving him the appearance Clark knew so well.

Superman swooped down and landed in front of his opponent.

"We end this now."

"Agreed."

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Perry White stormed into the Daily Planet newsroom, scanning the bustling crowd. He spotted Lane almost instantly. She always carried a certain air around her, even before her pregnancy.

"Lois!" he barked. "Tell me you already have the piece on the meta-battle downtown! Superman versus Steel and Power Girl!"

"I've got that and more Chief!" Lois called as she approached him, holding up her PDA. "I've also got a taped confession from the Cyborg Superman admitting to the murder of Jonathan Kent."

"How the hell did you get that?!" Perry growled as she reached him. Lois smiled.

"I was the one taping it, of course," she replied smugly. She tapped the screen of the PDA and nodded towards his computer. "I just uploaded it Chief. All yours." Perry shook his head and chuckled.

"Lois," he said. "You are worth every penny in that fat paycheck. It's going to be hell when I love you to maternity leave." Lois ran her tongue across her teeth and grinned.

"By then, my husband will be back," she declared. "And you know he'll be giving you material almost equal to mine."

"Looking forward to it," he said, ducking back into his office.

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Superman punched the Cyborg across the jaw, thunder erupting with the blow. His head snapped back and he stumbled backwards. He recovered his footing, jumped at Clark and hit him in the stomach. He winced, but grabbed Henshaw's arm and threw him into the ground, thunder erupting again form the impact. Clark strode over to Cyborg and picked him up.

"You were never as strong as I am," Clark said. "I'm just wearing you down. Stop now Henshaw. Save yourself the pain."

"Screw you," he growled. He slammed his forehead against Clark's nose, causing a small spurt of blood to erupt from his nose. Clark let go and grabbed his nose, surprised by the sudden pain. Henshaw took advantage and punched him in the jaw, throwing him to the ground. He kicked him in the side. Clark cried out as hot knives of pain lanced through his body.

"Solaris augmented me," he growled. "Made me better. I'm your equal Clark. The fools that brought me into the League, Dibny and Palmer, they thought I was one of your damn robots thanks to that. And now they're dead." Clark looked up. The Atom and Elongated Man were dead? A renewed rage filled his breast and Clark flew into Cyborg's chest, then lifted him up and carried him into the sky.

"Did you kill them?" he growled. "Did you kill them too you son of a bitch?!" Cyborg smiled.

"Why don't you add them to my tally from Coast City?" Rage erupted from Clark like a volcano. He punched the Cyborg as hard as he could, sending the villain flying.

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Zod watched the recording of Superman's battle with Superboy Prime in Metropolis until the youth flew into the sky and into deep space. He sneered at the images of the Man of Steel. He bore such a striking resemblance to Jor-El that it made him sick. He would relish meeting the man in battle, tearing him limb-from-limb then drinking his warm Kryptonian blood.

"You feel it too," said a smooth voice behind him. The bald human snake called Luthor stopped next to him with a sneer that reminded him of images of the Daxamite god of mischief. "The contempt. Disgust at his very being. His very existence!" Zod nodded.

"I shall delight in his death," he said simply. He stated it as fact. He would kill the Kryptonian. "You said you had a plan in doing this." Luthor nodded, a sly smile creeping over his face. He reached out and tapped the keyboard. Images of four separate individuals in combat appeared, all but one wearing the crest of the House of El.

"His family," Luthor said. "Power Girl, Steel, Superboy and Supergirl. Strike at them, destroy them, you have Superman." Zod cocked his eyebrow.

"Indeed, Luthor," he said. "You are quite a smart man."

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The Cyborg punched Superman as hard as he could, trying to fend off the Man of Steel. It was useless. He'd angered Clark, and there would be no outside influence stop him. He pounded at the villain, each blow growing in power. The Cyborg lashed out blindly, trying to stop the barrage. Clark caught his arm.

"It's over!" he snarled. With that Clark snapped Henshaw's mechanical arm in two. Cyborg cried out in pain, and Clark punched him across the face. He grabbed the barely conscious villain by the throat.

"You're going to do your time for what you did!" Clark growled, breathing heavily. He tightened his grip. "I swear you will."

"Not today Clarkie." The air around him began to shimmer and consume him. A teleporter effect. Clark tried to grip him firmer, prayed he could be able to hang on or go with him, but it was no use. He was gone, leaving Superman hovering alone over the ocean.

His shoulders slumped as he accepted that his foe was gone. His body began to shake slightly. Clark raised his hands to his eyes as sobs could be audibly heard. His body shook more violently, then he cried out. He threw his head back with a primal roar and twin beams of heat vision lanced from his eyes, piercing the sky.

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The Cyborg stood from where he collapsed and bowed his head. He expected a berating, but was pleased by the response.

"Well done," Solaris's voice said. "Well done."

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Two weeks later...

Clark Kent held his box of belongings closely to his chest as another passenger boarded the elevator destined for the Daily Planet City Room. He shifted the box to his right hand and reached up with his left to push his glasses up his nose. A knot started to form in his gut while the elevator slowly approached the intended floor. Nerves, just like his first day on the job all over again.

Two weeks of court proceedings, two very difficult weeks, declared Clark Kent a free man. Now he stood where he never thought he would again. The elevator chimed, indicating they'd reached the city room. The other occupants emptied the elevator, but Clark lingered for a moment. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and walked outside the small box, opening his eyes as he did so.

As he walked towards his reclaimed desk, people stopped what they were doing and began to watch him. He heard whispers clearly, asking who he was and the like. He nodded at his brother-in-law, Ron Troupe, as he walked past his desk. Ron stood upon seeing Clark and began clapping slowly. Others caught on, and the clapping grew louder and louder and gradually quicker. By the time Clark reached his desk, it was full-blown applause. He blushed deep red from embarrassment.

"You should have expected it, Smallville," Lois said from behind him. He turned to his pregnant wife and smiled.

"Should have done," he said.

"You sure you're okay to start again?" she asked. "You can take another-"

"No, I'm fine," he said sadly, waving at everyone to stop. The room began its normal hustle again.

"Look at you commanding respect out of costume," said a soft voice behind him. Clark turned to see Jimmy Olsen standing behind him. His friend rushed towards him and hugged him.

"It's good to have you back," he said.

"Good to be back," Clark said, pulling away. "You know?"

"Yeah, once and for all," he replied. "I figured it out."

"Figured what out?" Perry White asked as he approached them, a smile on his face.

"Nothing Chief," Jimmy said.

"Good," Perry said with a wink. He handed Clark a notepad. "Glad you're back Kent. Let's get you to work."

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Martha Kent heard a tap on her front door. She stood, trying to grab that cane that had become her constant companion since she awoke, but a whoosh stopped her.

"Aunt Martha," Conner said. "Sit back down. I've got it." She smiled at Superboy and nodded. She was so glad to have him back. It was almost as big a relief as when Clark had returned from the dead years ago.

"No worries Conner," said a deep soothing voice. "We let ourselves in." The teenage hero couldn't stop Martha from jumping to her feet this time. She even ignored the cane as she rushed into the entry way and into her son's arms. She gripped him tightly.

"Ma," he laughed, holding her close. "I'm so glad you're okay." Martha sobbed as she clutched her son.

"So am I Clark," she said. "So am I." She drew back and wiped her eyes. Adjusting to her new life was so difficult for her, and Clark's smile was the most comforting thing she could have. She craned around him and smiled at Lois.

"Lois, sweetheart, it's so good to see you too," she said, stepping back, then walking into her pregnant daughter-in-law's arms. They embraced for a few moments. Martha finally drew back and smiled.

"Well, enough sobbing," she said, wiping her eyes. "Have you had anything to eat?"

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Clark and Conner sat on the roof of the Kent farmhouse. They could hear Martha and Lois in the kitchen, talking, doing dishes and laughing. Clark patted Conner's shoulder and smiled.

"Hell of a year, eh?" he said. Conner chuckled.

"Was it like this when you came back from the dead?" he asked. "Constant upheaval?"

"Pretty much," he replied. "I almost wonder if my death started this whole crisis with Alexander Luthor. You know he was watching us the whole time?"

"Yeah," Conner said. "Bastard." He looked at Superman and smiled. "It really is good to have you back," he continued. "You've probably heard it a million times, but... it is."

"I feel the same about you Conner," he said. "It's so good to have... a family again. You, Kara, Karen... I'm not so alone any more."

"Hell, you even have Steel and Krypto around still," Conner laughed. "It's like Krypton never exploded."

"I wish," Clark said mournfully. He then looked down, glared through the roof and into the kitchen and looked at his beautiful wife. "You know what? No, I don't. This is home. I couldn't imagine life any other way." Conner nodded.

"I know what you mean," he said. Clark's ears suddenly perked up.

"You hear that?" he said, glancing at Superboy.

"Yeah," Conner said, pulling off his glasses and the polo shirt he wore, revealing his black and red uniform. "Trouble. The good kind." Clark smiled and pulled his own shirt open.

"Yeah," he said. "The good kind."

Within seconds, two objects in flight rocketed across the sky over Smallville. Few wondered what they were. Many had become familiar with what they were and what they symbolized. That symbol could be summed with one word.

Hope.

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In Superman: The Man of Steel #6- After this blockbuster arc, what could come next? One word- ZOD.