บท 8: Chapter 8: Detour Before The Birthday Party.
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-Jon's P.O.V-
The week ended pretty quickly. Despite my earlier fears, Gotham Academy was not that bad of a place.
Of course I was the New Kid and got stares everytime I walked through the halls, and of course I found it hard to fit in with the Wealthy trust fund kids- talking about what car they were getting for their 16th birthday.
Fortunately, Dick and the others were different. Not social outcasts like I was afraid I was turning out to be, but not too popular either. They were right in the middle. A breath of fresh air.
Maybe that's why I was looking forward to Dick's birthday party. As it was a Saturday, which meant no school, I was having mom drive me to his house.
But first, we made a quick detour.
-0-
The car pulled over at the Daily Planet's parking lot.
"Gimme a minute Jon. Gotta rush to the office and back, okay?"
Ma said, going for the door.
"Oooh, can I come? I've never seen where you and Dad work."
I asked, bringing my palms together in a plea.
"I'll be on my best behavior, I promise."
She looked hesitant.
"No funny business?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die by Kryptonite."
I drew said cross for added measure. Kryptonite was the most painful thing for a Kryptonian(though I had Grandpa Jor-el looking into a counter)
"That's not funny."
Ma frowned, to which I grinned.
"You can come, but don't wander off, we don't wanna be late for your friend's birthday."
The party wouldn't start before 3. It was 1.00 P.M. We had time.
Entering the building, I was impressed by the corporate layout as Mom led me through the ground floor.
More than a couple people said hi to her, by the time we got on the elevator, taking it all the way to the 10th floor.
It dinged and the doors opened up to show an erratic work space.
"Stay close."
Mom said in a tone that brokered no argument. We navigated through the sea of journalists, camera men, editors all the way to an office labeled, 'Lois L. Kent, Senior Investigative Reporter.'
Whoa, Mom's kind of a big deal, ain't she?
"Lois! So glad you're here."
A red haired man in a t-shirt and blue jeans called out. The camera on his neck swung around as he approached us. Jimmy Olsen, Mom and Dad's coworker/family friend.
"Hey Jimmy."
She replied, inserting a key into the door.
"Please tell me you got the legal documents I asked for."
"Ah about that...Perry wants to see you."
Jimmy turned nervous.
"You sold me out to Perry?!"
Mom whisper yelled.
And as if on cue,
"Lane! Get in my office. Now!"
A fat guy with gray hair, white shirt and suspenders barked from the corner office at the back.
"Peachy ain't he?"
I growled, not liking the tone he was using.
"Every boss is."
Ma sighed, before smiling at me,
"Happy that you're angry for me Jon, but don't do anything. No pranks, okay?"
I couldn't help but gasp,
"I would never prank your boss! Perish the thought!"
"Right."
She didn't look convinced.
"Jimmy, stay here. you and I need to talk about the meaning of the word, 'confidential.'"
Jimmy gulped as she walked off. I could understand his fear.
"So...ah, Jon, you've certainly grown up since the last time I saw you."
He chuckled, about to rub my hair only for my glare to stop him cold.
"Don't talk to me, Traitor."
I snorted, pushing open the door to Mom's office. Maybe she had games on her computer.
Five minutes inside were enough to let me know that 'no' she had none. Only solitaire and no one likes solitaire when there are more fun things to do.
"Mmh...cool picture."
I commented on the family photo on top of her desk.
There was Mom, Dad and 5 year old me, smiling for the world to see. It was right after getting my own room.
And now that I noticed it, Mom's office was mostly decorated with photos and awards. There were a few art pieces here and there but not as many as the framed pictures.
"Lois Lane awarded the Pulitzer Prize."
I read the headline of a newspaper article, framed on the wall, next to a picture of Superman saving the day.
"Written by Clark Kent."
She looked happy, receiving the Pulitzer from a Bald Headed man in a suit. I recognized the smug face and fake smile instantly. Lex Luthor, the owner of Lexcorp and a massive dick to Dad.
Fuck that guy.
Moving on, it was delightfully surprising to see how many accolades my parents had gathered.
I was proud of them, of their achievements. But I also felt a little pressure. What career should I pick?
As a Kryptonian, there was practically no limit to what I could do. But as their son, what would make them happy? Should I become a reporter too?
Boom!
The entire building shook from a loud impact. My hand went to the Crystal Pendant.
"Jefex, cut off the Kryptonite emission."
The Simulation Space's AI, Jefex, did as asked, and the slight kryptonite radiation it was pushing into my body stopped.
My powers came back almost instantly, superhearing catching the conversation happening around.
"'Oh my God! What is that thing...'"
"'...Giant Lizard in the air...'"
"'...Superman...'"
"'It's a Dragon! Superman is fighting a Dragon outside!'"
The last voice was Jimmy's.
I ran to the Window, looking around at the air before seeing it. Dad was indeed tussling with a massive fire breathing Dragon.
The impact from earlier was just the shockwaves produced by the Dragon's passing.
"'I need a better angle...to the rooftop!'"
Jimmy's voice reached my ears.
Indeed, to the Rooftop it is! No way am I missing Dad in action!
I blitzed to the door, opening it and peeking at Chief Editor, Perry's office. Through the glass, Ma was speaking to a phone while motioning to the fight happening outside the Planet building. Everyone else was on the windows.
Good. Coast is clear.
There was no sign of Jimmy anywhere though, and I had no idea how to get to the rooftop.
Fortunately, with my powers active, I remembered his scent and followed traces of it, leading me to a staircase.
Superspeed put me behind him seconds after he ran into the rooftop.
"Sup Traitor."
I tapped his back and he jumped like the ground was on fire.
'Snap.'
I used his camera in Super Speed to take a picture of him in frightmode(haha) before he could react. Then I sent it to the Crystal Pendant for eh...safekeeping(totally not blackmail material), before deleting the original in his camera.
"Aaahhh!!...Oh Jon...its just you."
Jimmy breathed out with a sigh.
"You scream like a girl."
I said, moving past him with my eyes searching for the battle, aaaand...
'Found it.'
"Hey wait! Jon, you shouldn't be here!"
He caught up to me, only to fall silent and follow my pointed finger. He immediately started taking pictures of the fight.
Superman was clamped in the jaws of the Dragon, which was trying to bite down, only to fail. So it settled for shaking it's neck to try and throw him away.
Just that motion was strong enough to disrupt the air, sending down wind currents that ruffled our clothes.
Superman left a blur in the air as he was forcibly sent flying.
His form disappeared from view behind some buildings, while the Dragon stayed floating in mid-air, gliding while staring at the direction it threw my Dad.
'Come on Dad. That's not enough to put you down. Kick that thing's ass or I will.'
I was nervous and angry for him.
"Ah...maybe we should get off the roof..."
Jimmy suggested, backing away in slight fear as the Dragon turned it's neck around and saw us.
Red light flashed in it's eyes and they focused on me.
("Kryptonian Detected. Commencing Termination.")
My ears buzzed- a deep mechanized voice reaching them from the Dragon's direction. With a flap of its wings, the massive beast began flying our way.
Wait...that voice...it had sounded lifeless.
Listening closely, I couldn't detect any life signs coming off the Dragon.
'It's a robot,' I realized.
A robot Dragon. Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to build a robot in the form of a Dragon?!
"You were right Jimmy, we should go."
I told the Camera Man who didn't waste any more time, and ended for the door.
Meanwhile, I stood with indecision. If I followed him, I would be dragging the Dragon along now that I was the target.
But if I stayed put, I would be facing something that even Superman was struggling with.
The Dragon closed in, looming large over me, yet I still hesitated. It opened its wide jaws, revealing a row of sharp teeth as long as my leg.
Fire bloomed at the back of its throat, heralding a flame breath that would no doubt turn me and everything behind to ash.
Fuck this. My eyes grew hot, lighting up as I readied my heat vision.
Bam!
Unexpectedly, The Dragon was hit on the side by a fast moving blue and red blur.
One of it's wings deformed with a metalic twang and it's whole body was sent spiralling into the air, it's tail clipping the edge of the Daily Planet building.
"Jon!"
My Dad's angry eyes found mine from where he floated in the air.
"Get to safety. I'll deal with you later."
With that, he took off, leaving a sonic boom behind.
The reality of how close I had come to dying hit me hard, and I found myself kneeling on the rooftop. What...what was I thinking?
I might be his son, but I'm not Superman... He's a full Kryptonian, I'm only half. Mom would be devastated if I died or was hurt. And just after I promised her to behave.
"Stupid stupid stupid..."
I belated myself.
A loud groaning noise caught my attention, pulling me out of my self induced pity party.
A shadow fell on me from above. Looking up, the giant planet ball on top of the Daily Planet was tilting over, and right before my eyes, the metal sphere fell off it's perch, missing me by inches on it's descent to the street below.
I didn't think.
Despite not knowing how to fly, I jumped off the rooftop, determined to catch the 100+ ton ball of metal before it could claim lives.
I was so getting grounded for this...
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