Marvel's Man of Steel

Prologue: Arrival

Outside of the Solar System, a light could be seen flashing. Then suddenly it sped past Neptune at high speeds, faster than anything known to man. The light was revealed to be a vessel of sorts, a sleek object with a more ornate design to it. Eventually, the vessel came crashing downwards towards the planet of Earth. It continued to move further and further downwards. The vessel sped across Western Europe, the East Coast of North America, until finally getting to it's final destination.

The vessel crossed the North American landscape before crashing into the outskirts of San Francisco. The year was 1986 and the time was 5:00 in the morning. A man and a woman were on their porch waiting for the sun to rise over the horizon but saw the spectacle before them when it crash landed. "Brian! Did you see that!?" The woman exclaimed to which the man nodded slowly in awe. There was an eerie silence before the cries of a baby could be heard echoing through the cool Fall wind.

Brian looked to the woman beside him and she had already disappeared into their home. Grabbing flashlights and running off to find the source of those baby cries. "Lana over there!" He shouted, "What's that?" He pointed off towards smoke nearby. They ran off in that direction and came to a stop by a crater with a trail leading towards it. Inside the crater was the vessel but also a baby squirming about inside of it. Lana without hesitating rushed down into the crater. "Lana, wait a damn minute!" Brian shouted and ran after her. Upon getting closer they found themselves before the vessel. It was at least six feet in length and fifty inches in width.

Lana came to a stop by the vessel while admiring it's design. Brian not long after got to her side also admiring the ship. That was when their eyes landed on a baby, no more than two months old staring back at them. Lana feeling her maternal instincts activate did not hesitate to reach over and lift the baby into her arms. The child began to cry once again with Lana gently holding it and looking back at Brian. Brian also stared at the baby then looked at Lana. "Oh no, I know that look", He started, "Lana we are NOT taking in an alien baby." He said then watched her walk over with the baby. "Brian...look at this child and tell me would you abandon him?" She asked with a firm yet soothing tone. Brian looked down to find the child staring back up at him. He was going to speak before seeing that the child reached up to try and grab him. "Go on." She held the baby boy out to Brian who reluctantly lifted the baby into his arms. He let out a slight sigh then watched as the baby cooed at him.

"I...Lana this is too much...what happens if the government finds him?", He questions, "We're talking about that big question of aliens existing and us raising one." Brian said then looked up to see Lana giving him a saddened yet understanding expression. "Then what exactly do you think we should do Brian?" She asked and watched as Brian processed that question only to find that he doesn't exactly have an answer. A deep breathe left him before looking back at the child. "I don't know.." He said in defeat.

"Brian, I can't give us a child", She reminded to him,  "One just came down from space mind you and has no one to look after him. He has no one and nothing to look after him...are you really willing to abandon him?" Lana asked while getting beside Brian, placing a hand on his shoulder. The hand revealed to have a wedding ring on her finger as she looked down at the baby. "....No." He responded, then let out a sigh before looking over at Lana. "How are you so good at making me speak my mind?" He questioned, to which she smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

"Well, I had a career in Psychology and was a Psychiatrist before we married." She reminded him before the two looked down towards the baby, who was now looking at the both of them. Brian reached a finger over to poke the small child. The child grabbed his finger causing the married man to smile down at the boy. "Lauren..." Brian stated slowly. "You want to name him after your grandfather?" She asked and Brian nodded before he looked at the vessel that Lauren arrived in. Gently, he gave the baby to Lana and rummaged inside of it. He found a blanket, a small S symbol of an object, as well as clothes that did not belong on this world. "Well...let's take him home."

Lana, Brian, and now Lauren were heading home, little did they know that another vessel just like Lauren's landed in Europe. Their fates were now forever changed within this universe. For they were not going to be found by loving parents. With Lauren and his new adopted parents, he learns that he was far different from normal humans at an early age. When he was still in elementary he could see through a person's flesh, and peer inside to find their vital organs. His eyes could fire heat from them that would vaporize any normal human's skin. His strength was even far greater than it should be, being able to lift up his father's tractor at a young age with ease. His speed as well was inhuman like. He could outrun a speeding train without losing any stamina. There seemed to be nothing that Lauren could do until one day it happened. Brian Winters, due to cancer...passed away in the middle of Lauren's tenth birthday party.

This was a traumatic experience for Lauren, he had all these powers and yet he couldn't save his father. It made him feel powerless, and humbled him to remember, that with great power comes great responsibility. As well as no man with power are capable of everything, even if they were Lauren. The young boy never forgot that day ever since it happened. Things seemed to be normal for him ever since he found an equilibrium to his powers. That was when one day shook the entire world. "I am Ironman." Tony Stark said on live television before the reporters stood up begging to know more. It was July, 2002 and Lauren was sixteen years old at the time. Tony Stark was the richest man in the world as well as the smartest. However, the one who inspired him to be a better person were his parents and the late Steve Rogers. To Lauren, that was a good man standing for the right and freedom of all people.

Steve Rogers was a source of inspiration for Lauren, to be a shield for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. While he had these powers, he never used them unless he truly needed to. Now in his years of college he is more or less in his final year where he will become a Psychologist. He chose communication as a way to help others rather than fighting.

The year was 2010, when Lauren was in the Stark Expo. He watched Justin Hammer show off his suits of armor for the United States military. When it all came falling downwards for the second rate rich man, Lauren used his inhuman speed to protect anyone who was in harm's way. There was this one kid who had an Ironman mask, he couldn't remember the name that they gave him.

Though, he was aware that they would have died if they remained near one of the Hammer Drones. Before the drone exploded, Lauren rushed over and shielded the boy allowing his back to take the heat from the explosion. "You alright?" Lauren asked once the explosion had passed. The boy stared up at him in shock and slowly nodded. "You go run off now, don't want your parents worrying about you." The young man said before giving the boy a pat on the shoulder.

That was the first time Lauren met Peter Parker, the future Spider-Man. The second time were under better circumstances but that is a story for another time. It was now 2011, and Lauren was now in his very own office where he could be a Psychiatrist in downtown San Francisco. He didn't know who he would be seeing as his very first patient. When his receptionist called saying that they had an appointment with a very important patient, Lauren straightened himself and sat down in a chair. He wore a casual suit, one with black and red, with the tie itself being red as well. This is when Lauren felt his heart race once the door was opened.

"Mr. Winters." Said the casual tone of Tony Stark. "Mr...Stark?", He asked, "W-welcome please take a seat." Lauren said with a bit of nervousness in his voice. Did he notice me use my powers at the Stark Expo? Lauren thought to himself while giving Tony a smile. "So, what seems to be troubling you Mr. Stark?" He watched as Tony relaxed himself on the couch and sigh. "Call me Tony, and I've got a few problems that you could help me with." Tony said while taking out a small canteen of Bourbon. "Well then." Lauren said while slowly relaxing against his chair. "Shall we begin?"