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#12

  The sound of a bell ringing goes off as another patron enters Bibbo's Diner - a well kempt establishment that sits between humbleness and posh in design. However, the owner, is no pretentious individual. He's simply a successful businessman with charm and a strong sense of community for the innocent residents of Metropolis city, rich or lower class. It's because of the diner's reputation lots of people, including Superman & and a reporter, make plans to dine there. One half of the 'couple' in question, the strapping young man in a leather jacket and a bold red 'S' on his chest, finally enters. When he spots his the woman who's seeking an exclusive with him sitting & waiting, he puts some pep in his steps and hustles on over toward her with a big grin spread across his handsome face.

  "Hey, sorry I'm late! I didn't keep you waiting long, did I?" He asks whilst pulling out the opposite chair across from her and settling himself down onto it before scooting closer to the table.

  "Superman..." She sweetly address him with a grin curving her own lush and fairly glossy lips, leaning forward while her chin rests atop of the back of her right hand.

  "It's still early. I'd say you made more than just excellent time. Thought for sure you'd be a little late, with your recent push into tv media and whatnot."

  "Well, I chose to prioritize you more. I'm Superman every day of the week, but I think it helps to have someone with plenty of reach to give some insight about me to the public. I rather be here with you than in front of the prodding lenses of someone's camera again." He responds warmly and as truthful as he could. It earns him a giggle from the young woman across from, whose smile grows even larger afterwards.

  "Still quite the sweet talker, eh? I bet you tell all the women you meet like that, don't you?" She teases with a slightly tilt of her head. However, the kryptonian doesn't seem to catch onto her humor.

  "...No, I don't. I guess I decided to give YOU the interview because you're uniquely pretty." The clone admits. In reaction, a bit of sympathy bleeds onto the woman's face.

  "Oh, jeeze. Is this an actual date or casual interview? You've got a way with words, you know that?" She assures him.

  "Of course. I'm just being honest. It's what I intend to give you for the entire interview." He responds in kind, presenting another big, toothy grin as he leans forward and rests his forearms atop of the table. As he looks into her vibrant caramel eyes, memories of the day they met begin flooding in--

  { Months ago after the stopping the Terror Twins at the mall... }

  The sky dwindles in light, giving way to the apricot horizon of sunset. The evening was upon Metropolis, and through its darkened sky flew its new protector. Fashioned in black and neon lines of crimson that gleam gently in the creeping darkness. He's in no rush at all. Just cruising as a gentle flow of wind brushes through his raven shaggy hair, granted by his easy going momentum. In the depths of his heart, he can feel a wave of inevitable change coming his way. He hasn't the slightest clue of when or how, but it's there. He ponders upon it nonetheless, his expression unintentionally mimicking the nonchalance of the sun bidding farewell to the great sea of clouds overhead.

  His wandering eyes catch sight of something peculiar before much longer. Further investigation reveals it's a lonesome individual sitting atop of the center structure of the bridge nearby. Curiosity, or perhaps fate itself, draws him toward that direction. As the kryptonian closes in, the woman rises from her seated position where her legs dangle above the busy traffic that lies far below. She gathers her belongings at her own leisure, unaware of an approaching presence. Thus, the sound of boots touching down upon steel nearby snags her attention. She was taken aback initially, but the sight before her morphs her glance into a gaze of silent wonder. She rises to stand completely and face the young man wearing that red illuminating 'S' on his chest.

  From the clone's perspective, he found himself looking upon a young woman of beauty... Getting lost in those pretty brown eyes of hers that seem to twinkle with a shading unlike any other.

  His eye contact briefly tears away to take in the space she's been making use of. An empty shake cup sits just behind her feet, next to it a black duffle bag, and at the very end a tripod with a camera settled atop of it. Then he looks off to the side and down below at the flow of vehicles coming and going, trailing along until his cyan eyes take in the vast navy blue ocean. A look of concern takes form upon his face. His hues settle upon hers again as he utters the first words between them:

  "Is... everything okay, ma'am?"

  { Present day. }

  After a waiter approach to take their orders, the two go on to have a lovely night and dinner together. Laughing, sharing details of their lives to one another, and even discussing his habits. Curious eyes and whispers did nothing to bring down the moment for the kryptonian, and he certainly wouldn't let her mind wander for long with his straightforward ways. A few hours later, Superman pays the bill and the couple take their leave, side by side.

  "I had a fun time tonight, Superman! You're definitely one of the best things to happen to Metropolis City." She admits while adjusting herself to face him. Likewise, the young man does the same.

  "I'm glad you feel that way, Ms. Moon." The kryptonian responds with a nod.

  "Tana. TAN-NA. I'm not some old woman, you know. You don't have to call me by my last name, Mr. Superman." She playfully responds.

  "Now, would you be a dear and wave a taxi, my Metropolian Hero?"

  "Oh. I could fly and carry you home, if you want." He offers.

  "Hmmmm... Definitely tempting, but haven't gotten over my fear of heights quite yet. Maybe one day soon, though." She responds, then raises up on the balls of her feet to peck at his jaw.

  "Ah, that's totally fine. Whatever's more comfortable for you." He assures before he turns his attention toward the street and eventually waves down the first cab he sees.

  "I appreciate that." She tells him. Soon, the yellow vehicle Connor manages to draw the attention of begins slowing down to pull up in front of the two. Just as the car comes to a halt, the kryptonian reaches to carefully grip and pull the door open for her.

  "I'm glad we got to spend some time together again." He tells him while stepping forward

  "Likewise." He utters softly, still smiling. That is, until something imposes upon the kryptonian's superb hearing and makes him turn toward the direction it's coming from with a look of concern. His eyes shift into the palest shade of monochrome and he begins investigating with the combination of x-ray & telescope vision. What he spies certainly calls for his intervention, he feels.

  "Hnn..."

  "Something wrong?" Tana asks.

  "No. Nothing I can't take care of. You should go on home, okay?" He responds, reverting his eyes back to normal when he looks to her again.

  "Alright, I will." She obliges without argument. She enters the cab, while he stands at the sidewalk. Watching and waiting until the taxi drives off into the distance. Then, his attention shifts back toward the source of the commotion in the distance. He takes off into a jog down the street before abruptly taking off into the sky and accelerating like a rocket toward the trouble afoot.

  [At the Location of Trouble--]

  Zap! Zap-Zap! From the hands from a being -- a man with formidable power -- hovers with an air of unforgiving righteousness and solemness. The radiant energy projectiles he's discharging from his hands fire with the intent to kill, much like the myriad of bullets that fly in turn at him. Unfortunately for those receiving his cold ire, it's an undeniable one-sided exchange. The man floating above does not flinch or suffer any wounds, only serve as an impenetrable force that stops the casings in their tracks before they inevitably fall to form a metal puddle 15 feet below him. It's very much unlike his assault. His blasts disintegrate his targets abruptly on impact, bones and all. And where they miss, they inflict small craters into the pavement. Right now, this mighty individual is in the midst of mowing down thugs whom he caught trafficking drugs within a harbor warehouse and from the tanker ship dwelling outside nearby. He gave them a single opportunity to surrender and nothing more beyond it once they boldly declined with hostility.

  "This is freakin' crazy!!! I thought people said Superman doesn't kill!?"

  "Well if he didn't before, he sure as hell does now... The guy changes his suit a bit and puts on a visor, and all of a sudden he's a new guy with a change of heart. Just my Goddamn luck..." Two men, who're taking cover behind a large pile of metallic crates holding exported firearms, comment on their grave predicament. During, many of their peers are being cut down one after the other.

  "I... I-I aint staying here to die. Screw this. Screw all of this! No one ever mentioned we'd have to worry about dealing with indestructible freaks! I'm out of here!"

  "Yeah.. Yeah, I'm right behind you. There's no winning this. We're just sheep waiting our turn to get slaughtered by this guy." And with that mutual conclusion between the two of them, they began moving. Cautiously as possible in their advancing by making sure to stay to the far side near the wall as they move while partially crouching. The men do succeed in exiting the building through one of the open mechanical doors, but the timing is just a tad too late to be effective. The caped vigilante was just finishing up with the last few others inside the warehouse. Which becomes evident once the sound of gun shots, screams, and zapping finally comes to an abrupt end. However, it's also when another Superman arrives. One with a fashionable black leather jacket and red tea shades, no less.

  "Hey! Where do you two think you're going?" Connor asks right after swooping down and cutting the two armed men off from running a step further.

  "Oh crap!" C L A C K. The more desperate of the two throws his gun to the ground and raises his hands in forfeit. Just a few seconds later, his peer does the same.

  "Look, don't whack us, okay? I-I give! I'll go to jail! I'll do the time! Just be cool!"

  "Yeah, take it easy on us, alright? You guys made your point." The other comments as calmly as he could. Their implications bring forth a concern frown onto the young man's face behind those shades.

  "You mean he's been killing you guys? That other guy?" The kryptonian asks.

  "Y-yeah... Aren't you all buddies or something?"

  "No. The others are just imposters. We have no connection or unspoken allegiance to one another." Superman answers firmly.

  "Imposters, huh? No offense, kid, but you don't exactly look over six-feet tall or have a big flowing cape behind you." The calmer of the two men comments.

  "Regardless, I'm here to do things the right way. I'm not going to kill either of you, you have my word." The fashionable hero assures them.

  "Oh, thank God..." One of the thugs exhales in relief. Though, he NEARLY speaks a bit too soon. Connor catches sight of a figure looming above and preparing an attack. Another projectile that would've killed both men in front of him. Within a split second, the clone zips up into the air a few feet behind them to block the energy shot with an x-formation of his arms. The suddenness of it all startles the two men.

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  "Hey, that's enough! They already gave up, so there's no need to go after them." Connor shouts up at the other - the mysterious man whose elevation under a moonlit sky casts a shadow over the three below him. The man in question begins descending at angle and closing in on Connor at his own leisure while his cape flaps in the gentle wind. Soon, they come face-to-face. Both super-beings exchanging defiant stares through their respective lenses as barely a single feet is left between them.

  "Move. Aside." The taller of the two commands with disdain dripping from his words as his eyes narrow behind his transparent visor. Even so, the clone isn't fazed by the other's behavior.

  "No. Go kick rocks, you lousy phony." Connor retorts.

  "You would obstruct justice and defend these two criminals?"

  "I'm not obstructing justice, I'm upholding it. They laid down their arms and gave up. Now the court system will decide their punishment and deliver FAIR justice. Not you." Superman explains.

  "Such a futile approach. Those two are nothing more than criminals. A danger to all of those around them. They did not hesitate to pick up and use a gun, nor hesitate to violate several laws of serious offenses. They should be dealt with here and now." The other argues, seemingly possessing not a single care for Connor's way of doing things.

  "That's not really up for you to decide. Your perspective on the situation is excessive and irrational. I'll be handling them now, which means they're both under my protection. You got that?" Connor stands his ground.

  "You mean those two who are attempting to flee the area?" The other points out.

  "Huh?... What the... Hey, what are you two think you're do--" F W O O O S H!

  Before Connor can finish that thought, he's suddenly shoved aside. Within the next second, the caped vigilante takes off like a bullet and cuts the two off faster than they can blink.

  "WAIT!" The clone yells out and hurries over to intervene. However, it's far too late. By the time he begins flying closer, the other is already in the middle of holding both men by their faces and lifting them several feet above the ground. Cold and swift, the man builds up energy within his hands again and releases it. In an instant, the two are broken down into particles after that energy engulfs them, leaving only ashes that spill from the man's hands onto the pavement.

  "Justice has been served." The vigilante states as he looks upon the young who comes to a skidding halt a few feet away, staring with utter disbelief on his face. With his business concluded, the being looks skyward and begins ascending to take his leave. However--

  "No you don't!" Connor exclaims upon catching the other by the ankle, then brings him back down with all of his destructive might and a roaring T H R O O O O O M! ! ! ! ! that brushes the ears of even pedestrians of many Metropolis while the impact itself quakes the earth for hundreds of miles and sends fragments of concrete splattering like shattering glass. A crater so deep that the water under the surface begins seeping through and gradually fill the ten-meter radius hole. Still, the young man isn't done yet.

  Just as the other is rising to sit up, Connor's right there to roughly grab him by the shirt. He yanks the man up and closer as he brings a lunging knee forward that delivers a thunderous impact so strong, the sonic boom causes tall crashing waves manifest within the ocean water near them and windows for a mile around break. The only thing that keeps the man from flying off is Connor's iron grip on him. Though, that ends once the clone shoves him down and into a sitting position. The very moment the other collects himself and looks up, the kryptonian youth strides forward to deliver a fierce soccer kick with no level of restraint behind it. Connor's foot meets the other's chin with another horrifying shockwave that visibly distorts the air around them, but what comes next is arguably much worse. The vigilante is sent flying like a high caliber sniper round. A blur of a human-like cannonball that goes crashing through countless buildings. The man goes so far, that he ends up all the way over in London, UK.

  It's only then that Connor realizes what he's done. When he takes to the sky to fly after the caped vigilante, it really begins to sink in. His use of force was excessive. Thousands of voices fill his ears and destruction of his handiwork is visible to his eyes plain as day.

  "What have I done...?" He murmurs to himself. However, there's little time for him to dwell on it. The other was already returning and coming in hot. By the time Connor finally notices him, it's too late and he's tackled. Struck with a spear-like force that sends him cashing through a dozen buildings in the opposite direction before he's sent flipping aimless through the air with a fierce hook to the face.

  He eventually recovers and stabilizes himself. When he does, the other zeroes in on him again and delivers a right hook jerks his head to the side.

  "You too shall be eradicated." The vigilante announces calmly as he builds a glow of energy around his fists, then his assault continues. Closing in again, he delivers a blow to the clone's gut. Right after, his right hand reaches down toward the hunching over male and grabs a fistful of hair to pull him back up into a straight posture, then a left straight follows with a resounding

  T H A W K ! Then an even stronger left hook follows behind the previous blow and sends the clone rocketing off into the distance. Quick to give chase, the man manages to catch up to the artificial hero within a literal second before his onslaught continues. Several punches to the face with the third being what veers Connor's involuntary momentum downward until he crashes the roof of Metropolis City's townhall.

  "Gauh-kuh..." Grimacing in pain, the clone pushes himself up from lying flat on his stomach. As he does, bits of rubble fall from atop of his body and onto the floor. Just as he makes it back up onto his feet, the other comes landing down in front of him ten feet away.

  "...Perhaps you don't wear the house of EL shield in utter pretense." The man stoically comments. Meanwhile, Connor takes a moment to casually dust himself off.

  "What...?" The young man proceeds, pausing just to take a moment to tilt his head and rotate his neck enough to crack out some kinks.

  "Is that all you've got?" He adds. The other finds no amusement in the posturing at all. The two lock eyes and glare silently for what feels like minutes. Then, simultaneously they begin walking toward each other. Walking quicky turns into running, and running suddenly turns into a dual sonic boom before a devastating impact of their fists meeting at the middle quakes the entire building. The two immediately begin exchanging attacks, starting with Connor who throws his shoulder into a right hook - one the other easily evades by swaying out of the way. The man retaliates with a straight right, of which Connor reacts in time to block with his left forearm. From the latter, a one-two boxing combination blow goes flying for the man's face. Much like before, Connor's adversary weaves left and right out of harm's way with minimum effort. An uppercut is given in turn, but the clone leans his upper body back to move his chin out of its way. From the clone, a straight left is given in turn. The very one the vigilante reacts to flawlessly - ducking into a kneeling position to evade the blow while giving a mighty right jab to the young man's midsection that sends him crashing through a wall and out into the street.

  Rising to stand again, the vigilante begins walking toward the hole. Though it proves unnecessary. Connor returns with a vengeful fury.

  "HAAUUOOOH!" The clone roars out as he lunges toward the other and swings the car within his grasp with everything he has at his target. Smashing it through the structure and making that large hole three times bigger in the process before the vehicle meets the man's body with a destructive T H R A S S H ! It sends the vigilante flying further back into the building and through a couple of walls before the man finds himself laying in someone's office. The man climbs back onto his feet, and just as he's about to stand at his full height again, the clone throws that very same car at him. The latter manages to brace just in time to catch it despite being pushed out through the wall behind him. Before he can do anything with it however, a sudden discharge of heat-vision burns into that vehicle and causes it to explode on the spot with an echoing B O O O O M! ! that rings out for half a dozen city blocks.

  With eyes still sizzling with neon red, Connor arches a brow and begins approaching the hole leading outside while eyeing the mist of black smoke in his field of vision. However, him doing so proves to be unnecessary, as well. Just as he's about to place his foot outside, the vigilante comes flying at him at supersonic speed. In just seconds, the clone ends up getting hit with a spear that carries him all the way to Gotham City and right into the trendy nightclub known as the Iceberg Lounge. Panic erupts, but the two resume their gruesome bout. Another exchange of blows before it inevitably leads to Connor effortlessly swinging a pool table at the other. Of course, the vigilante raises his arms to block it, but is given no time to really react before he's given a similar tackling that carries him all the way to Keystone City, where they end up crashing into a grand stone statue of Barry Allen as the Flash within the Flash Museum. Good thing it's vacant at night, because the two go right back at it again and use anything they can get their hands on to assault one another. Just until one good counter punch sends Connor flying off across the country. Once the vigilante catches up with him, the two end up tussling for control and a position to lock in a choke hold, which unintentionally leads the two landing on the foreign and mystical island of Themyscira. There, the two end up crashing through the roof of a temple and landing inside of a dining hall. Groaning and grunting Connor gets back onto his feet after the rough landing. Similarly, the vigilante does the same before they rush each other down and begin throwing more blows. Their earthquake inducing battles rages on and puts the locals on high alert. By the time the army of Amazons women find the source of the destruction and commotion, the two are found inside of the armory room, where Connor can be seen standing behind the kneeling vigilante and trying to choke him out with the shaft of a spear.

  "What is the meaning of this madness!!?" One of the women shouts in outrage as she grips the hilt of her blade fiercely.

  "Huh? Ooof!" Her outburst distracts the young man long enough for his adversary to flip him forward and onto his back with a thud. Without much delay, the former attempts to use that very same spear to impale him through the chest. Fortunately, the clone is quick to roll out of the way and clumsily scurry back onto his feet. It's then the other suddenly tosses the spear at him with tremendous force, though that too Connor manages to evade by leaning his body out of the way of it. However, what he doesn't manage to avoid is the vigilante closing in at light-speed and feeling a hand wrapping around his throat before he's taken off toward the sky again. The two crashing through the roof and leaving rubble to fall in their wake as they head off elsewhere.

  This time, he winds up somewhere snowy and where a blizzard is taking place - weather that fazes neither of them, though. The vigilante tosses the artificial youth to the ground before he begins a rainfall-style assault of firing energy shots down at the clone. He goes on for a quite a while just to be thorough, cause an abundance of snow to rise up with every shot he gives. It's not until his 32nd does he finally stop and studies the ground below through the screen of the blizzard. Barely six seconds of him doing so, thin red beams shoot from ground-level and swipes along the sky with the intent of hitting him. Majestically, the vigilante maneuvers out of the way and begins descending. Soon swooping down to take a swing at the clone, though finds himself missing his mark. Connor gives him no chance to adjust himself and grabs the man's cape just after evading that flying punch. The clone grits his teeth and begins spinning. Faster and faster and even faster until they're moving so fast, it causes a mini tornado to take form and kick up snow. Then, he let's go. Sending the vigilante flying until the being harshly slams into a grand vibrant structure in the far distance. And like a bolt of lightning, Connor swiftly closes in on him again just as the man is sliding down into a sitting position. He grabs the vigilante by the hair and shoulder, then takes him for a simple 360 spin for the sole purpose of slamming him face first into the structure in front of them.

  T O O O O M ! T O O O O M! T O O O O M! T O O O O M! T O O O O M!

  Connor ruthlessly bashes the man's face against the surprisingly metal-like surface. Just until an elbow jab to the chin finally sends him reeling back. The two take a moment to collect themselves, but not a long one at all. Once the man with the flowing red cape turns to tiredly face him again, the clone zips in to wrap his hands around the man's neck and thrash him against that surface again. A pair of hands raise to pull his away and struggles ensues. Well, just until the surface behind the vigilante lifts, revealing to a massive mechanical door and causing the two to fall over in front of the corridor leading inside. Not only that, but it reveals a family standing on the other side. A son, a mother, and a bearded father. A paternal figure, upon looking up with blood spilling from his nose and an individual trail tricking down the middle of his lips, Connor notices is wearing an all too familiar bold 'S' upon his shirt. Something that draws a scowl across his face once realization clicks, which leads him to ask the first thing that comes to his mind. Disdain and exhaustion lace his tone as he does.

  "...Who the fuck are you?"

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