Return of a Speedster

The Invasion (Part 2): The City of No Tomorrow

Metropolis
July 7, 2019
8:50 AM EST

Usually there is nothing that can unnerve the Man of Steel, but after that meeting with Mr. Graves--about an Apokoliptian invasion--even the Batman is more on edge than usual.

As he soars over the City of Tomorrow, Superman does what he does best: he fights crime. An armed robbery here. A stolen car there. Even saving a cat in a tree.

As he sits atop the of the giant globe of the Daily Planet Building, he thinks about much has happened in just the past week alone. First, Wally comes back and then immediately after everyone is rallying and preparing for a war that is yet to come. As Clark thinks back on this, he hears something.

He hears a loud explosion and several loud screams. But he doesn't see any smoke.

He follows the loud rancor and finds the source. A giant hole has ripped open the sky high above LexCorp Tower, and it is spewing out heavily-armored and armed insect-like creatures that are destroying everything in their path.

"Parademons!" Superman exclaims, as he gets to work rescuing the people trapped in the buildings.

The Tower's private defenses come online, and missile launchers and heavy machine guns start firing on the vile creatures. Upon catching sight of the Man of Tomorrow, several of the main batteries start to open fire on Superman, as he is carrying a bus load of people as far away for the snarled traffic below--so that it can escape the city.

Typical Luthor, Superman thinks as he strains against the weight.

He gets hit in the back and nearly drops the bus. he sets it down next to a small park. The motor starts and it speeds away. He then turns his attention back to the ever growing swarm of Parademons exiting the Boom Tube. He then engages them directly, as MCPD tends to the remaining civilians.

He starts throwing punches and throwing the creatures into each other, as the Air Force arrives--no doubt from the nearby base.

Even though the base is miles away, Superman can still hear the screams of the unfortunate airmen that are not able to reach their aircraft, or get into the air. Upon hearing that the runways are blocked--and realizing that he can't hold off this swarm by himself--he goes to the base's aid. After clearing the injured from the burning fighter jets, he gives the heaps of metal a swift kick and effectively clears the runway.

"Are you okay?" Superman asks the woman he just rescued.

The jet pilot is about to respond, but instead reaches for her standard issue pistol and opens fire on the Parademon sneaking up behind Superman--killing It.

Superman nods in gratitude before he leaps into sky.

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Gotham
9:02 AM EST

The air around Gotham was filled with more tension than usual, as mobs of people flee the destruction of the two cities to the north.

A thick blanket of fog encircles the entire city; hiding it from view from the outside world.

While the police have their hands full, the Batman continues to wage his one man war against crime--with Robin's help, of course.

They stand perched on top of a supposedly abandoned warehouse by the docks at the easternmost point of the island city. Inside the warehouse, one of the several head mobsters that call Gotham home holds a meeting with his associates. The topic: how to exploit the chaos happening all around them.

Batman views this meeting via Robin's hologlove. As the group gets down to business, a silent alarm is triggered on the glove. The screen flashes the message 'Proximity Alert!' over and over. After a little bit of typing, Robin reveals that there are a multitude of small and large crafts approaching the city at high speeds.