Chapter 55: Gone, Gone The Form of Man
Superman and Wonder Woman walked side by side through the metallic corridors of the Watchtower, having just arrived after a mission in New York. It was an easy cleanup, something they could handle without breaking a sweat, but their thoughts were elsewhere. Superman spoke up, his voice low. "He's... different, Diana. I don't know what to think about this lack of memory. It's like he's a stranger now."
Wonder Woman's expression was stoic, her eyes straight ahead. "It's more than concerning, Kal. He's clearly confused. Lost. And with no memory of us... who knows what he might do?"
Superman sighed. "I know. And then there's Kara... How do we even begin to tell her about all this? That he's alive, but... not really?"
"We have to tell her," Wonder Woman said firmly, crossing her arms. "We can't keep this from her, Kal. She deserves to know."
He looked down at the metallic floor beneath his feet, his shoulders slumping a bit. "I know, but... with her condition, Diana... I don't want to upset her like that. She's carrying his child. This could... devastate her."
Wonder Woman stopped walking, turning to face him, her eyes locking with his. "Kara is stronger than you think, Kal. She handled his death well; she'll handle this, too."
"You're right." Superman ran a hand through his hair, frustration showing through. "I just wish I didn't have to be the one to tell her."
"It's only right," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You are her family."
Superman finally nodded, resigning himself to what needed to be done. He walked through the Watchtower's control room, the steady hum of machinery and monitors surrounding him. As he passed through the corridors leading to the residential wing, he slowed his pace, each step feeling heavier than the last. He was happy that Mark was alive—relieved, even—but the idea of telling Kara about Mark's new life, his amnesia, and his new marriage gnawed at him. A part of him was frustrated, too; he knew Mark couldn't be blamed if his memory was gone, but it still felt like a betrayal, and he couldn't help but feel the sting from him marrying another woman after he got his cousin pregnant.
Finally, he reached the relaxation room—a sprawling area designed for the League to unwind. It had arcade machines, comfortable bean bags, snacks lined up on shelves, and large windows offering a view of the Earth below. A place where heroes could forget their troubles for a little while.
"Kara!" Superman called out, knowing that even if she wasn't in the room, she'd hear him. He was just thankful that the Watchtower's design prevented any eavesdropping on sensitive conversations—otherwise, there'd be no stopping a pregnant Kryptonian from busting down the doors.
Moments later, Kara floated in, her movements slow and tired. She looked worn out, which was understandable given that the Viltrumite-Kryptonian baby inside her was nearly due. She landed in front of Clark, rubbing her round stomach as she sat down on a bean bag. She still wore her hero costume, though it looked slightly strange as her belly bulged out and her breasts strained against the fabric.
"Is everything okay, Kal?" she asked, letting out a sigh as she settled into the bean bag, her hand resting on her stomach.
Clark hesitated, trying to find a way to ease into the conversation. "I thought you'd be out searching..."
Kara shook her head, her eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. "Kori's searching today. She said I should get some sleep... so I'm back here till tomorrow." She gave a tired smile, her eyes struggling to stay open.
"You should use my solar chamber," Clark suggested. "You're not getting enough sunlight."
Kryptonians were supposed to be tireless, yellow sunlight continuously rejuvenating their cells. If she was feeling tired, that meant the baby inside her was draining a lot of her energy.
Kara gave a weak chuckle, brushing off his concern. "I'll do it tomorrow. Right now, I just really want to sleep." She yawned, stretching out her arms. "So what did you want to talk about, Kal?"
Superman felt the words catch in his throat. He breathed out, bracing himself. "We... found Mark."
Instantly, Kara's fatigue vanished. She was on her feet, grabbing Clark by the shoulders, her eyes wide and wild. "Where is he? Tell me, Kal, where is he right now?!"
Clark tried to calm her, but she was shaking him, demanding answers. "Why didn't he come back here?! Why didn't you bring him back?!"
"Kara—Kara, stop!" Superman grabbed her wrists, trying to get her to settle down. "Please, calm down!"
Kara forced herself to take a few breaths, but her eyes were blazing with a mix of hope and fury. "What happened, Kal? Where's Mark?"
"There's... a problem," Superman said, steadying his voice. "He's not himself. He... he doesn't remember you. Or the baby."
The hope in Kara's eyes dimmed. She fell back into the bean bag, her hand clutching her stomach protectively. "What do you mean... no memory?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"He's lost everything, Kara. His memories are gone. He didn't know me, didn't recognize Diana... and he didn't know you. I'm sorry."
Tears welled in Kara's eyes as she tried to process it. "But... but he'll remember, right?" she said, desperation lacing her voice. "We'll help him, won't we? What if... what if he never remembers me?"
Clark knelt down in front of her, pulling her into a hug as her tears broke free, sobs wracking her body. "We'll help him," he promised. "We'll do everything we can to bring his memory back. Don't worry, okay?"
Kara buried her face in his shoulder, shaking. "He's gone... and he doesn't even know me..."
Superman held her, letting her cry. He knew there was no easy way to say what he had to say next. Deciding to slip it in while she was vulnerable, he finally spoke. "Kara... there's something else. He... he seems to be married. And right now, he's trying to find his wife."
Instantly, Kara's demeanor changed. She shoved Superman back with surprising strength, fury contorting her face. "I'll kill him!" she screamed, her tears turning to rage. She tried to push past him, her hands shoving at his chest as she yelled. "That cheating bastard! That womanizing piece of— I'll beat him to a pulp!"
"Kara, stop!" Superman pleaded, trying to restrain her as she thrashed. But then her fist came up, hitting him square in the groin, making him grunt in pain as he tried to steady her.
"Tell me where he is right now!" Kara demanded, her eyes glowing red with heat vision ready to unleash. The air around her seemed to sizzle with anger as she struggled in his grip. 'Diana sold me down the river,' Superman thought bitterly, cursing Wonder Woman silently. He'd never seen Kara like this—completely driven by her emotions, raw and furious.
"Kara, listen—I think you should calm—"
Before he could finish, a blazing beam of heat vision hit Superman square in the chest, sending him crashing backward through the wall of the relaxation room. He tumbled through the metallic hallway, slamming through another wall before coming to a stop.
'Oh dear...'
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The atmosphere inside Jason Blood's apartment crackled with tension as they faced each other down. Jason tilted his glass back, draining the last of his whiskey in a single gulp. He grinned, but it was humorless—a grimace more than anything else.
"Then it seems we have a problem," Jason said as he hurled the glass straight at Mark. Mark didn't flinch, tilting his head just enough for the cup to miss his face and shatter on the wall behind him. But Jason was already in motion. He rolled over the bar, and as he moved, his hands sparked with magical energy. Mark saw the glow too late, and the blast slammed into him like a battering ram, knocking him back a few meters, his feet sliding across the polished wood floor. Mark recovered instantly, speeding forward, a gust of wind trailing behind him as he closed the gap between them. But Jason's body burst into flame, his figure flickering out of existence as he teleported behind Mark. A sword lifted from its place on the wall, flying through the air and landing squarely in Jason's grip, the blade glowing faintly as he wielded it.
"I know not why you come here, but I give you a final chance to leave," Jason warned, the edge of the sword glinting dangerously.
"I can't do that," Mark said flatly, his voice unyielding. "I need you, even if I have to drag you by your hair."
Jason's lips curled into a sneer. "A shame. This is the Sword of Heaven, a weapon wielded in the last war. Even the most durable will be cut by its blade."
"Then I will not let myself get cut," Mark replied, rushing in again.
Jason moved with the speed and grace of a trained swordsman, swinging the sword in quick arcs. Mark ducked, barely dodging a downward slash that sliced through the floor like butter. He shot out a fist toward Jason's midsection, but Jason twisted around, bringing the sword down in a sideways slash aimed to cleave through Mark's arm. Mark jumped back, feeling the blade just miss his skin.
Jason's magic flared. He shot bolts of energy that glowed purple and green, each one like a small explosion. They smashed into Mark's chest, sending ripples of force through him. Mark stumbled back but stayed on his feet, his eyes locked onto Jason's movements, tracking every motion. He reached out, trying to grab Jason by the wrist, but Jason's form shimmered, and he teleported across the room, reappearing near the fireplace.
"Stand still!" Mark snapped, lunging for Jason again. He threw out a punch, a powerful right hook meant to knock him out, but Jason sidestepped and slashed with the sword, aiming for Mark's midsection. The blade cut through Mark's shirt and grazed his skin, a thin line of blood welling up instantly. Jason followed up with another quick stab, this time aiming for Mark's heart. Mark slapped the sword aside with his forearm, the metal scraping against his skin but not breaking through.
Jason jumped back, creating some distance, and swung his free hand through the air. Tendrils of magic snaked out from his fingers, wrapping around Mark's arms and legs like constricting vines. They tightened, and with a sharp yank, Jason hurled Mark across the room, slamming him into the wall. Mark broke through the drywall and the bricks behind it, the apartment shuddering from the impact.
Mark tore through the tendrils with a grunt, his muscles flexing as he broke free. He blitzed forward again, this time aiming low to grab Jason's legs and take him down, but Jason jumped over him, disappearing in a swirl of fire and reappearing above Mark, slashing down with the sword. Mark raised his arm slapping away the blade by the flat end but it still bit into his skin.
"Dammit!" Mark spat. He clapped his hands together in one powerful motion. The shockwave that erupted blew out the walls and ceiling of the apartment. Windows shattered, furniture exploded into splinters, and the entire top floor of the building blew outwards in the blast. Jason was caught in the shockwave, flung out of the building and into the open air. Mark followed, shooting out into the sky to catch Jason before he fell. But Jason's body shimmered again, and he teleported away, reappearing on the rooftop of a nearby building. Mark floated down to meet him, his fists clenched in frustration.
"Enough of this," Mark said, his voice cold. "You can't win."
Jason wiped the blood trickling down from a cut on his forehead, his expression almost amused. "You believe much in your own abilities and underestimate your opponents." Jason's hands moved in quick, intricate gestures, and long, shadowy tendrils erupted from his palms again. The tendrils coiled around Mark like serpents, and Jason swung his arms, throwing Mark through the rooftop, sending him crashing down through the floors below. Each impact shattered concrete and steel, and by the time Mark hit the bottom, he was buried in rubble. Jason descended slowly, floating above the hole Mark had left. His eyes glowed bright, and he raised a hand, telekinetic force pressing down on Mark like an invisible mountain, pinning him to the floor. Mark strained against the force, muscles bulging, veins standing out like cables as he fought the pressure. With a roar, he broke free, the telekinetic grip shattering like glass. His telekinesis was nothing compared to Ravens.
Illusions flickered into existence around Jason—doubles of himself that formed a circle around Mark, each wielding a glowing blade. They moved as one, stabbing and slashing at Mark from all sides. Mark moved faster, his speed a blur as he hit each illusion, his fists smashing through their forms one by one until only the real Jason was left.
Mark stepped back, and with a shout he released another massive blast of gravitational force, the repelling field exploding out like a shockwave. Jason was thrown back, the sword ripped from his grip as he skidded to the edge of the rooftop, nearly falling off. He managed to grab the ledge with one hand, dangling there as Mark approached. Jason pulled himself up, panting. "Seems I've overestimated myself," he admitted, brushing off the dust and blood on his face. He looked off to the side, speaking as if to someone unseen. "I guess I have no choice."
Mark raised an eyebrow, watching as Jason's demeanor shifted. He stepped back, his body tensing for whatever was coming.
"Gone, gone, the form of man! Rise the demon Etrigan!" Jason's voice echoed like a commandment, and flames erupted around him. They were blinding, forcing Mark to cover his eyes. When he uncovered them, the man was gone, replaced by a hulking creature.
Etrigan stood tall and imposing. His body was thick with muscle, covered in yellow, leathery skin, scarred and marked with ancient runes. Horns jutted out from his head, and his eyes glowed a burning red. His face was twisted into a feral grin, sharp teeth lining his mouth like a predator's.
"Who the hell are you?" Mark demanded.
"I am Etrigan, the demon's might, And you, mortal, are my prey tonight. I'll rip and tear and make you bleed, Your soul is what the damned ones need."
Mark rolled his eyes, exhaling sharply in frustration. "Great. Just what I needed. How do I get Jason back?"
Etrigan's grin widened, flames flickering between his teeth as he laughed. "To reveal the man and bring him back, You'll have to beat me—break and crack."
Mark didn't hesitate. He blitzed forward, grabbing Etrigan by the throat, squeezing hard, and flinging him as far as he could. Etrigan's massive body hurtled through the sky, and Mark rocketed after him, slamming his fists into the demon's torso over and over, each impact like the crack of thunder. He finished by hammering Etrigan into an open field outside of Gotham, the ground shattering beneath the force of the impact. Etrigan hit the dirt on all fours, growling low and guttural. He pushed off with his legs, running toward Mark like an animal. He opened his mouth wide and unleashed a torrent of hellfire. Mark shot to the side, avoiding the flames, but he felt the heat sear his skin, even through his enhanced durability.
The field became a battleground. Etrigan lunged, claws slashing at Mark's chest. Mark countered with blue spheres of energy, absorbing the flames that Etrigan spat at him, redirecting them back at the demon. Red spheres followed, slamming into Etrigan and sending him sliding backward, but the demon dug his claws into the ground, stopping his momentum and launching himself back at Mark.
They exchanged blows, the air filled with the sound of fists meeting flesh and the roar of Etrigan's flames. Mark was fast, but Etrigan was strong, every claw swipe cutting deep enough to draw blood. Mark shot a sphere of red, catching Etrigan in the chest, but the demon only laughed, the injuries healing almost instantly.
Mark gritted his teeth. "Enough!" His nanites activated, covering his body in a dark, sleek armor that hardened into a hard shell. He rushed forward, plowing through Etrigan's flames, ignoring the searing heat as he slammed his fist into Etrigan's jaw. The demon's body cratered into the ground, the earth shattering beneath the force of the hit. Etrigan roared, his claws slicing through Mark's armor, drawing blood but not stopping him. Mark unleashed a flurry of punches, nearly thirty in a single second, each blow sending shockwaves through Etrigan's body. He grabbed the demon and threw him skyward, then shot up to meet him, delivering a powerful kick that sent Etrigan rocketing further into the air.
Mark clenched his fist, focusing his gravity powers around Etrigan, forming a dense blue sphere that held the demon captive while tearing at his flesh, Etrigan roared as he was held within the event horizon of the sphere. With a thought, he smashed Etrigan across the ground, into trees, through boulders, and then into the earth itself. Finally, Mark let the sphere destabilize, the gravity imploding and sending Etrigan flying free—only to meet Mark's fist head-on, cracking his skull with a sickening crunch. Etrigan's eyes flashed with pain, but the demon was relentless, his body healing as fast as Mark could break it. But his powers were waning, and he could feel his connection to Hell weakening. He needed to retreat, to return and refuel his strength.
Etrigan clawed his way out of the crater he was in, his breath labored. "This fight's not over, not by far, I'll be back, to drag you to where demons are."
With that, Etrigan's body was engulfed in a burst of bright light, and when it faded, Jason Blood lay unconscious on the ground. Mark let his armor recede, the nanites flowing back into his skin. He walked over, grabbing Jason by the collar, lifting him over his shoulder.
He had what he came for. Now it was time to head back to Bayview.
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Lucan and Anissa landed on the dark side of the moon, the black void of space stretching infinitely behind them. Nolan hovered in the low gravity, waiting, his eyes piercing through the darkness like two predatory orbs. Lucan's face was tense, the silence between the three Viltrumites sharp as a knife.
'Lucan,' Nolan's voice cut through the mental void. 'Did you track down the target? Supergirl—did you find her?'
Lucan said nothing. His eyes were filled with rage as he stormed over to Nolan, his fist already cocked back. He threw a punch that landed squarely against Nolan's jaw. Nolan's head twisted with the force of the hit, but his body didn't move. Lucan was breathing heavily, teeth bared in fury.
'You lied, again!' Lucan's voice was thick with anger. 'You're a traitor to the Empire, Nolan! You talk about loyalty, about the mission, but every time you lie! Your deception shows your true colors!'
Nolan's scowl deepened. He floated forward, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. He swung his arm, backhanding Lucan with enough force to send him flying into one of the moon's craters. Lucan hit the ground hard, the impact sending a spray of lunar dust into the air. Anissa didn't react, her arms crossed, her eyes cold as they bored into Nolan. 'He speaks the truth, Nolan. Your information on the woman we seek was wrong. And now, you lie to us again. You told us your son was dead.'
'My son is dead,' Nolan snapped back.
'A lie,' Anissa said, her voice sharp. 'I saw him with my own eyes. He's the one who did this to Lucan—he's the one responsible for his injuries.'
Nolan's eyebrows raised slightly, the only sign of surprise he allowed himself. 'You're certain?'
She nodded. 'I am. He's strong. Stronger than I expected. My strength is above his, but he's a skilled fighter. And I suspect he was holding back, he could've killed Lucan if he'd wanted to.'
Nolan's eyes narrowed as he considered this new information. It was good news, despite everything. If his son was alive, then there was still a chance—still an opportunity. Perhaps he could finally bring him into the fold. He could convince him to fight for the Viltrumite Empire. Together, Nolan, his son, and his grandchild could become champions of the Empire. It could be the turning point they needed to end the countless wars that fractured their efforts—the Green Lanterns, the Thanagarians, the Saiyans. The Viltrumites were strong, but their numbers were dwindling. They couldn't afford division.
'No more splitting up,' Nolan said. 'You and Lucan attack together from now on. No mistakes. No missteps.'
Anissa looked at him, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. 'What will you do?'
Nolan's gaze was distant, already forming a plan. 'I will find my son.'
(AN: So we are coming close boys, to the end of the arc and to the birth of Marks children. Both with Harley, Kara and Raven. Though I don't think Ravens child will be having a good time. Anyway after this arc I feel like it's time to reconnect Mark with his girls maybe develop a new relationship or two and finally expand on our new character. Galatea. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter.)
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