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Volume 2: Issue 1

The Man of Steel #8

"Planetary Revolution"

By Tony Thornley

 

The man once known as Kenny Braverman stood in front of the communicator, his arms folded across his broad chest. He had only fleeting memories of his past life. Now he was called Zod, but before he remembered the Superman. Clark Kent . He bested him in everything, pretended to be his friend, then Kenny learned of his powers. He learned that Clark Kent was the best because he wasn't human.

And he learned that he held the power within him to destroy Superman. Kryptonite radiation had empowered him from the womb when his Kryptonian ship crash-landed in Smallville. He had attempted to destroy Superman, but that thirst for revenge destroyed him. Then the devil resurrected him and offered him a deal.

"My lord," Zod said, kneeling before the view screen. "Kal-El has eluded me. I attempted to sway him as you commanded, but of course, it was unsuccessful."

"As I predicted," Zod's shadowed master replied. "The Kryptonian is difficult to gauge."

"It gets worse, my lord," he said. "Lar Gand appeared. He drafted Kal-El to his side and left for Daxam."

"Are you still on Earth?" the master replied. Zod shook his head.

"We are en route to Daxam now," he said. "We will stop them."

"I trust you Zod," he replied. "That is why I resurrected you. I fear you may need additional assistance though."

"Assistance, my lord?"

"I shall be sending two of my generals, the Fallen and Eclipsis to Daxam," he said. "They shall join your army to crush the resistance."

"When shall I expect them?" Zod asked, gritting his teeth as he did so.

"They shall arrive by Boom Tube as soon as you arrive on Daxam." His master leaned forward into the light, his eyes glowing red.

"Do not disappoint me General," he commanded.

"I shall not, Lord Darkseid."

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Lar Gand stood among the other Daxamite generals, some holographic in presence. Clark Kent stood towards the back, more concerned about the upcoming battle than the strategy being discussed. He frowned as the stars rushed by in hyperspace. Something deeper was at play here. What had Braverman back and in such a dangerous form?

"Kal-El is with us now," Valor said. "His presence alone will rally many of those on the fence to our side."

"And his other allies?" one of the Daxamites asked.

"Zod got to them before I arrived," Valor said. "He took out Superboy and Steel."

"The women?"

"I told them to stay behind," Superman said. "This is my battle." He walked up the table and leaned forward against it. "Kenny Braverman has a thing against me. He may not remember it, but it's against me. Do we have any idea who brought him back as Zod?"

"We're not sure," said one of the holographic forms. "The technology his backer gave him is familiar, but not completely known to us."

"Disguised then?" Clark asked.

"Most likely," Valor replied. Superman frowned and nodded.

"How close are we to Daxam?" he asked.

"Two hours," the ship's captain said.

Clark nodded. He needed some time.

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"GAAAAAH!" Lois Lane-Kent screamed. Pain lanced through her entire body. Several doctors and nurses run around her. Her sister Lucy held her hand tight. The baby was coming, and she wasn't going to take long.

"Where's Clark ?" she asked. "Lois, do you even know where he is?"

"He's- GUUUH!- on assignment!" She heaved several deep breaths. "He has no phone coverage." Outside there was a crash and loud yelling. A familiar female form burst into the delivery room.

"-sband's cousin!" Karen Starr exclaimed. "He wanted me to be here if he wasn't around." Lois sucked in several deep breaths.

"Karen!" she exclaimed.

"How close?" she asked, drawing up opposite to Lucy.

"Not long," Lucy replied. "The contractions are really close together." Karen nodded and took Lois's hand. Lois gave her a questioning look.

"Valor," she said. "Daxam." Lois nodded. Lucy looked up.

"It's nothi- NNNNG!"

"Ladies," the head doctor said. "It's time. I need only one of you here."

"Karen, go," Lois muttered. "Find John Henry and Conner, check on them."

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Superman looked down the ramp of the Daxamite ship. The bright yellow sun of Daxam shined in his eyes. He walked down the ramp and looked up to the sun. It felt different than Earth's son, but he knew it would maintain his powers.

The capitol city of Daxam was in ruins. The war had taken more of a toll on the planet than Valor had described. Several tents sat nearby, campfires lit and cooking food. Clark turned to Valor.

"Why didn-"

"It wasn't important, Kal-El," Valor said. "You're here." The Daxamites camping stood as they saw Superman. "Your presence alone will rally the fractured people of Daxam." He motioned the natives as they began to gather around them. "The symbol of the House of El has become a symbol of hope."

Clark looked out over the people. It was somewhat cheesy, but it was largely true. He knew what he'd become, even with his year's absence. He didn't know what to think as he watched them. The Daxamites were a proud and mighty people, even more so than humans.

"It's him," he heard the crowd whisper. "Superman. Here. To help us."

"They want to hear from you," Valor whispered. Clark nodded. He looked at the crowd and pictured his family among them- Lois, Ma, Kara, Conner, Karen. What if it were them?

"I'm here to help," Clark called. "Valor has asked for my help here. I know the one claiming to be Zod. He was my friend on Earth, and I thought he was dead. He wants to destroy me, and your people are means to that end." He looked around the crowd. "I will stop him and discover-" Clark stopped. He heard a very familiar rumble in the distance. He turned to Valor, his jaw agape.

"I know who Zod's superior is," he said to his ally.

"What?" he replied. "How?"

"I just heard a Boom Tube," he said.

"By Rao," Valor muttered.

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Three figures marched out of the Boom Tube, two male, one female, followed by two battalions of Parademons. Zod smiled as he regarded his allies. Lord Darkseid seemed to favor him. Lashina stopped near Zod and gave him a cold nod. The other two Apokaliptans were unfamiliar to him though.

"Greetings," he said. "I am Zod."

"We know you," said the first. He was a tall man, with muted red hair, grey skin and a black and green bodysuit. "I am Eclipsis." He motioned to the other male, a very large being in all black armor, the seams glowing red. "This is the Fallen. Lord Darkseid sends his greetings."

"I am aware," Zod grumbled. "Shall we parlay?"

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"This adds a whole new dimension to things," Clark said, pacing around the war room of the Daxamite resistance. "We've hardly hear from the New Gods in nearly two years on Earth. Now Darkseid is making his presence known just after I arrive on your world..."

"Which most likely means there is something much larger at stake than just a revolution," Valor said. Clark nodded.

"Of course there is," he said. "The Daxamites are second in power levels only to myself and some of the stronger willed Green Lanterns- Jordan , Gardner , Kilowog, etcetera. If Darkseid were to control the Daxamites."

"Then he would have control of whatever system he pleased," continued Jax Konn, one of the generals seated with them.

"Thanagar, the Khunds, Tamaranians." Superman continued. "Even the Psions or Dominators. They would all bow to Darkseid."

"Or be crushed," Valor chimed in. Clark nodded again.

"We need to stop this," he said. "We need to hold the line here. I don't know what Darkseid is planning, but I would guess that it involves the destruction of the only planet that has ever resisted and defeated him." He stopped pacing and turned to the assembled generals of Daxam, his face grim.

"Earth."

The words sunk in for several moments before an explosion outside jolted them all. Collectively they jumped to their feet, but Superman was already outside. The scene was chaos, energy blasts from above mowing through the tent city. Clark looked to the sky and confirmed his worst fears. Parademons.

He took to the air with a bellow, his eyes glowing red. His red and blue costume instantly attracted the attention of the minions of Darkseid. The creatures swarmed him like hungry animals. Clark met them angrily, backhanding the first parademon to reach him, then blasting three more with his heat vision. His face twisted into a snarl and he flew forward, fists extended. He knocked them aside like ten-pins, throwing them left and right.

He stopped, hovered for a few moments and began scanning the area with his telescopic vision. Who was it he sent this time? Glorious Godfrey? Mantis? Vermin Vundabar? He stopped as his gaze settled on a large figure in black armor, energy seeping from its kinks. He was unfamiliar with this Apokoliptan, but he was sure he was commanding the parademons.

Suddenly, they were on him again, biting and clawing. He spun, his fists extended, pummeling his foes. He stopped and lunged forward, knocking several aside. He grabbed one by the throat and drew it close to him.

"Leave them alone," he growled. "Return to your master. Tell him Kal-El is waiting for him." He flung the foot soldier away and turned back to the camp. Though unintelligent, the parademons understood well enough to leave. Clark floated to the ground, settling down by the Daxamite generals.

"We need to contact Oa," he said. "We need some Lanterns here."

"I'll go," said one of the generals named Fer Darl.

"I as well," volunteered Gyt Sera. Clark nodded and pulled his JLA communicator from his belt.

"When you get there, find Guy Gardner or Killowog and give them this," he said. "They'll come running." He tossed Gyt the communicator. He turned back to the fleeing parademons and glared into the distance.

"How bad is it?" Valor asked stepping up next to him.

"Darkseid never sends parademons alone," he muttered. "That many he would have sent three, maybe four, of his more trusted aides to lead them. When it comes to something I imagine as important as Daxam is, they're probably some of the most powerful he has." He turned to the assembled Daxamites.

"And that's a very bad thing."

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Lois Lane cried out again. The baby was so close now. She took several deep breaths and pushed, ignoring the pain. Just. once. more.

"I see the head!" one of the doctors cried. "Again like that Lois!" Lucy gripped her hand and Lois pushed. After several moments the pain subsided and Lois relaxed. A few seconds later she heard her child's first cry. She smiled and looked at the baby. The rest of the world faded to white as the doctor cut the umbilical cord and handed her little girl to her. Lois smiled and touched her nose. Nothing else in the world mattered. She only wished Clark was here for it. A voice suddenly drew her from her thoughts.

"Lois?" Lucy asked, obviously repeating herself. "Lois, did you hear what I asked?"

"Oh, sorry," she whispered, looking up at her sister. "I didn't."

"What are you going to name her?" Lucy asked with a smile. Lois smiled and looked down at the newborn again.

"Chloe," she said. "Chloe Kent ."

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

Power Girl stubbornly placed her hands on her hips and repeated her question.

"Steel and Superboy," she growled. "Where are they?"

"I'm sorry ma'am, I can-" The doctor was obviously very frightened.

"Yes," she growled. "You can. Where are my friends?" Karen could have sworn the man was about to wet himself. He would have deserved it.

"Superboy's fine," he finally said. "Steel is stable but in surgery. You can see Sup-"

"Take me," she said. He nodded. He led her to a room which seemed to her was reserved for celebrities of sorts. He pushed open the door and Karen slipped inside. He was lying down, his eyes closed. Small sparks of energy periodically jumped from his body.

"Conner?" she whispered. "You awake?"

"Yeah," he said and opened his eyes. "Trying to wrap my head around how fast I'm healing." She noticed that his wounds had mostly mended now. She cocked an eyebrow.

"After effect of your return?"

"Probably." He sat up. " Clark ?"

"On Daxam. Aiding Valor."

"We need to go." He took a shaky step off the bed. She grabbed him to help stabilize him. "We need to he-" With a bright flash, the duo vanished.

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Jimmy Olsen sat nervously in the lobby of the office of Senator Desmond Adelman, a recently appointed senator from the state of Delaware . The circumstances of the senator's appointment were completely unusual. He was a complete unknown with no public history according to his research. Jimmy even hacked into police records to discover that he'd never even had a parking ticket. Then suddenly, he showed up in Metropolis within a day of the battle between the Society and the Justice League.

He was charismatic, and charming, despite the hint of sliminess Jimmy felt from him. He had more of a look of a man who would be constantly wringing his hands anxiously rather than the "natural leader" the papers dubbed him- balding, a stringy comb over covering his part-bald scalp, a thin frame and, notably to Jimmy, long, bony fingers. When Senator Robison disappeared a month earlier, Adelman was appointed in his place almost immediately. Jimmy was the lucky one to get the first public interview he'd allowed since the appointment.

"Mister Olsen?"his secretary cooed. "The Senator's ready for you." Jimmy grinned and gave her a nod. He stood and picked up his jacket. He adjusted the collar of his polo shirt and opened the large oak door which led into Adelman's office. He strode in and offered his hand to the senator. He stood and took his hand in his strong, cold grip. He smiled and Jimmy instantly superimposed the image of Mister Burns of the Simpsons over his face mentally.

"Have a seat, Ji-" he said with a wave, "-can I call you Jim? Or Jimmy?"

"Jim's fine, Mister Senator." He sat down, as did Adelman.

"And you may call me Desmond." He steepled his fingers and leaned back in his chair. "Anything to drink? A water, coffee, Soder Cola?"

"Water would be fine," Jimmy replied. Adelman nodded and reached out to his intercom, turning it on.

" Marion , could you bring a bottle of chilled Sierra Springs in for Mister Olsen," he said.

"Of course, sir," Marion said. He smiled and Jim returned the expression, despite a growing uneasiness. He glanced around and noticed a barbed whip hanging from the wall, several lashes connecting to the handle. He started for a moment.

"Oh, you've noticed my prize antique," he said. He stood and walked over to the whip.

"Yeah," Jimmy replied. "You don't see people collecting torture implements very often. What is it exactly?"

"It's a cat-o'nine-tails," Adelman said and picked it up gingerly. "It's dated back to the early seventeen hundreds and is suspected to be the lash used by Edward Teach to lash mutineers. You do know who Teach is, correct?"

"He was a pirate," Jimmy said. "Went by Black Bart?"

"Close," Adelman said with a giddy gleam in his eye. "Blackbeard. One of the world's most feared pirates. It's amazing that it survived to our day." He set it back down as the door opened and Marion entered with a bottle of water. She handed it to Jimmy and strode back out. Jimmy watched the senator carefully as he returned to his seat. Something was odd about Adelman, especially the look in his eye as he spoke about the torture device he kept proudly. Jimmy decided then to discover what it was.

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

"They're coming," Clark said, standing atop a ruined building. He turned to Valor. "I don't recognize two of the three New Gods Darkseid sent, but they're coming with Zod in the lead."

"How long will they be on us?"

"Soon," Superman replied. "Very soon."

"Then we arrived just on time," a familiar voice bellowed. Killowog descended next to Superman and Valor. Four other Lanterns followed.

"Form up poozers," he bellowed over his shoulder. "They're coming fast."

"Just four?" Clark asked with a grin.

"We're a little stretched thin," he said. "But it's the least we could do." Clark nodded.

"It helps," he said. "A lot." He turned back to the approached Daxamites, followed by parademons and all led by four sinister figures. Clark suddenly noticed the New God with the muted red hair. He focused on him and gasped.

"'Wog," he said. "Come here." The Lantern walked to the building's edge alongside Superman. "The redhead-" He pointed. "-look familiar to you?" Kilowog's eyes glowed green as he used his ring to focus on the New God. He coughed in surprise.

"Yeah. He does."

"Lightray," Superman muttered. "It's Lightray. What's he doing following Darkseid?" The marching force stopped about a hundred yards from where the rebel forces sat and Zod stepped forward. Superman glanced at Killowog and Valor.

"Tell everyone to be ready," he whispered.

"Kal-El!" Zod cried. "It is at last time to meet your end! After I rule Daxam, I will return to Earth and rule with an iron grip!" Superman grimaced, then drew himself to his full height.

"What you're doing here is insane Kenny!" he called. "You're a Kansas farmboy, not an intergalactic despot! And you're my friend! Remember that!"

"You LIE, KAL-EL!" Zod roared. "I am General Zod! And I will crush you!" He turned to his troops and waved towards where Clark stood. "FORWARD!!!"

"Stand ready!" Superman cried behind him. "They're coming!"

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In Superman #9: The Battle for Daxam!