A Boy and his Dog, Part Two

*Daily Bugle, New York City*

It was mid-afternoon when Peter finished up work at the Bugle, before he headed out of the main office. It had been a quiet afternoon, which had prompted Robbie to talk JJ into letting him and Clark go home early. Clark had needed to head off, too; something had just come up with his other job.

'*Poor guy's gonna work himself into an early grave.*' Peter thought. He grimaced to himself. '*And with all the schoolwork I've got, I'll likely be right behind him...*'

"Hey, Tiger!"

Peter automatically smiled as he saw Mary-Jane walk up to him as he walked onto the sidewalk.

"Hey, MJ." He said, embracing her.

Mary-Jane returned his smile. "So, how are the salt mines?"

"Not as bad as they usually are." Peter replied. "So, what's new at school?"

Mary-Jane looked stricken.

"There's *another* Bio quiz, this Friday." She said.

Peter groaned. "They must be trying to make us burn out before finals."

Mary-Jane laughed. "Oh, yeah, like *you* need to worry, Mr. Super-Genius!"

"Yeah, Parker. An uber-geek like you has *nothing* to worry about."

Peter groaned to himself, as he turned to see the smirking face of 17-year-old Flash Thompson, Midtown High school quarterback, undisputed Big Man on Campus...and Peter's long-time tormentor. Flash was tall, and strongly built, with short, red-blond hair, and green eyes, clad in his red-and-white letterman jacket over his white t-shirt, as well as his blue jeans. Behind him were a couple of his pals on the football team.

"Thompson, doesn't your meter stop running when school lets out?" Peter muttered.

Flash's smirk grew. "For *you*, Parker, the beatings are on the *house*."

Mary-Jane frowned. "*God*, Flash, would it *kill* you to stop being a total *jerk* for just one *day?!*"

Flash frowned.

"What *I* don't get, MJ, is why you hang around with this *loser*, all the time." He said. He glared at Peter. "You think you're so *smart*, don't you, Parker?"

Peter smiled wryly; he was going to have to let Flash beat him up, anyway...so it was just as well to get just *one* barb in. "Well, when there are guys like *you*, Thompson, I guess it all balances out."

"Oh, that's *it!*" Flash roared, stomping towards Peter. "You're dead meat, Parker!" Peter sighed, and braced himself...

A feral snarl cut the air, stopping Flash in his tracks. Flash slowly turned, and *froze.* Looking behind him, Peter saw why: there was a lean, short-white-furred dog there, growling at Flash.

"W-What the..?!" Flash yelped, as he and his buddies backed up. "C-Call your dog off, Parker! *Call him off!*"

Peter chuckled. "I'd run if I were you, Flash." Flash and his cronies didn't need any more coaxing; they took off as fast as they could go.

As soon as Flash was gone, the dog stopped snarling, and started panting happily. Peter smiled. "Hey, thanks, fella!"

Mary-Jane smiled. "Oh, Peter, *look* at him! He's so *cute!*"

Peter chuckled.

"Yeah, and he *belongs* to someone, MJ." He said, gesturing to the dog's collar. "Well, Pooch, let's see who you belong to..." With that, he knelt down to look at the dog's collar...

...and his eyes nearly bugged out of his *head*.

Noticing Peter's expression, Mary-Jane knelt down.

"What's wrong, Peter...oh, my *God*..." She murmured.

Emblazoned on the dog's collar was a single stylized 'S' inside a five-sided diamond.

"*Whoa*..." Peter said, "...this guy belongs to...Big Blue..."

"*Wow*..." Mary-Jane murmured. She lightly smiled. "So, when do I get to *meet* your teammate?"

Peter chuckled.

"Probably when he decides to drop the 'stealthy' gimmick." He said. "Anyway, I'd better get the big guy's attention, and let him know that his dog is here. After that, I'll probably go on patrol for a while."

Mary-Jane nodded.

"Be careful, Tiger." She said, before she kissed him on the cheek, and headed home. Smiling to himself, Peter darted into a nearby alley, to change, and Superman's dog promptly followed.

In minutes, Peter had donned his uniform, stashing his street clothes in a pouch of webbing up in a dark corner. Spider-Man then dropped down, where the dog was waiting. "Okay, Pooch, hop on." he said, extending his arms. "I'll swing us both up to the rooftops, where your master can come get you."

The dog just looked at him quizzically, before he seemed to concentrate...and slowly floated up, hovering at Spider-Man's face-level.

Behind his mask, Spider-Man's eyes widened.

"That works, too." He said. "Well, follow me!" With that, Spider-Man shot out a web-line, and pulled himself straight up, and the flying dog promptly followed.

Spider-Man swung up to one of the highest rooftops, far from prying eyes, landing soundlessly, and the dog soon touched down next to him. Spider-Man looked around, making sure that they were alone, before he cupped his hands in front of his mouth.

"*Hey, Big Blue! There's something here that you should see!*"

After about a minute, a familiar sonic boom echoed on the horizon, seconds before Superman silently touched down on the rooftop.

"You didn't have to *shout*, Little Red...*Krypto?!*" Superman exclaimed. "What are you doing here, boy?"

At once, the dog – Krypto – ran to his master, barking happily. Spider-Man chuckled. "Looks like your pet had a little outing, big guy."

Superman looked at Krypto sternly. "Krypto," he said, "I told you to stay at the Institute. Bad dog!" At that, Krypto lowered his gaze, whimpering, ashamed.

"Hey...don't be *too* hard on him, Big Blue." Spider-Man said. "He *did* help me out of a tight spot."

Superman nodded, and then knelt to look at his dog. "Krypto, the reason I told you to stay at the Institute is because it isn't safe for you, out here. If anyone learned where you're from, they might try to hurt you, or take you away. *That's* why you need to stay home, okay, boy?"

Krypto barked happily, before he licked his master's face.

Smiling, Superman stood back up. "Thanks, Spidey." he said.

"No problem, chief." Spider-Man quipped. "Us freaks have to stick together!"

Just then, Superman's belt-buckle started to beep. At once, Superman unclipped it, and extended it into a communicator. "Superman here."

"*Superman, it's Cyclops. We have an emergency, here; Ray's gone missing.*"

Superman's eyes widened. "When did this happen?"

"*A little while ago. Ray, Roberto, Bobby, and Jubilee were at the New York Mall; when they were supposed to meet to get the bus home, Ray never showed up. We were going to look for him.*"

Superman nodded. "Take the X-Van to the back-alley a few blocks from the Mall; I'll meet you there – I have an idea and I'll let the rest of the League know. Just be sure to bring an article of Ray's clothing."

"*Affirmative. Cyclops out.*"

With that, Superman shut off his communicator.

"Need any help?" Spider-Man asked.

Superman smiled.

"Sure!" He replied. "Just head to the empty back-alley near the mall; I need to make a stop, first."

"Got it." Spider-Man said. With that, he shot out a web-line, and swung off, as Superman and Krypto took to the skies, flying off.

After making a brief stop at the Fortress, Superman and Krypto landed silently along with Shazam, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter in the empty back-alley where Spider-Man and the X-Men had gathered; by then, night had fallen.

"Sorry we're late." Superman said.

"Better late den nev'r, *mon ami.*" Gambit said.

"What was the holdup?" Spider-Man asked.

Superman smiled.

"We're going to *sniff* our kidnappers out." He said. He lightly scratched Krypto behind the ears. "I had to stop by the Fortress to install a homing transponder in Krypto's collar, so we can follow him."

Spider-Man blinked. "'The Fortress'?"

"His old hangout." Rogue explained.

"Oh."

"Did you bring the clothing?" Superman asked.

Cyclops held out a flannel t-shirt. "Will this do?"

Superman nodded, taking the shirt, and then knelt, presenting it to Krypto, letting him sniff it.

"Okay, boy, this is what Ray smells like." He said, giving Krypto time to get a good smell. "Now, *find Ray!*"

At once, Krypto started to sniff the ground, trying to find Ray's scent-trail. After a few minutes, Krypto stopped in one spot, took a few more sniffs...and then barked, before running off down the road.

"He's got Ray's trail!" Superman exclaimed. "Spidey and I will follow him from the air; you guys follow us in the X-Van!" At that, the X-Men darted into the X-Van as Superman took to the air, tracking Krypto via his belt-computer. Spider-Man promptly followed, shooting out a web-line and swinging after him.

Krypto came to a stop at an empty street, with not a soul in sight; it was safe to land. Superman touched down as Krypto circled the street, sniffing the ground. Spider-Man touched down a few seconds later.

"*Man*, Big Blue, your pooch can *run!*" He quipped.

Superman chuckled, and then walked over to Krypto.

"What's wrong, boy?" he asked. "What are you smelling?"

Krypto let out a little whine, as if to say that he'd lost the trail...and then started sniffing again, poring his nose over the concrete, as if he were taking a second "look" of the trail. He walked to a manhole in the street...

He stopped at the manhole, and barked.

"You're kidding me." Spider-Man said. "Is he saying what I *think* he's saying?"

Superman chuckled. "I'm afraid so."

Spider-Man sighed.

"I figured that this would be a dirty job." He joked, "but I didn't mean that *literally*..."

By then, the X-Van had pulled up, and the X-Men all got out.

"So, where to, now, big guy?" Spyke inquired.

Superman simply gestured to the manhole.

Shadowcat's eyes widened. "*Please* tell me you're joking."

"Afraid not." Spider-Man said.

Dazzler looked at the manhole.

"Why would anyone take Ray down *there?*" She wondered.

"I don't know." Cyclops said. "But we're going to have to go in after them."

Shadowcat groaned. "I was afraid you were going to say that." With that, Superman lifted up the manhole cover, and Krypto promptly hopped down into the sewer. Superman followed him, then Spider-Man, Green Lantern, Shazam and Martian Manhunter and then the X-Men headed in, one-by-one.

In the sewers, Krypto sniffed the trickle of murky water that ran under their feet, and then barked.

"He's got the trail." Superman said.

Rogue whistled. "That's some nose he's got."

Shadowcat grimaced.

"Yeah." She agreed, waving her hand in front of her nose. "Poor Krypto."

"Dazzler; we're going to need some light." Cyclops instructed.

"Leave that to me." Green Lantern raised his power ring and produced a green light which made it easier to navigate the tunnel.

"Superman, do you see anything?" Dazzler asked.

Superman's eyes flashed electric-blue as he scanned ahead of them.

"There's no-one ahead of us." He said, as his eyes scanned the entire electromagnetic spectrum, stopping after scanning on infrared, "but someone's been through here, fairly recently."

There were fading yellow footprints heading in the direction ahead of them, the direction that Krypto was leading them in.

"As long as we don't run into any alligators, I'm good." Spider-Man said. Krypto barked again, and started to walk down the tunnel, sniffing as he went, and everyone followed him.

Krypto eventually led them out of the tunnel, and into a much larger chamber, filled with stone columns that supported the ceiling, with railroad tracks lain across the floor.

"Gambit guessin' dat dis was a subway station." Gambit hazarded.

Spider-Man nodded. "These abandoned stations are all over the place, down here."

"Apparently, it's not *totally* abandoned." Nightcrawler said.

Suddenly, Krypto stopped, and started growling.

"What is it?" Dazzler asked.

Superman frowned, as his thermal-vision revealed *another* set of footprints...except *these* were *orange*.

They were *recent*.

"Someone *else* is here." Superman said. Just then, his hearing picked up the sound of footsteps, as he caught movement in the corner of his *eye*. "*There!*"

Krypto had seen it, too. Snarling, he ran after the shadow...

"*Wait!*" Jean cried. "It's just a little girl!"

"Krypto, *heel!*" Superman shouted; instantly, Krypto stopped his pursuit.

"She might know where Ray is!" Cyclops declared. "Nightcrawler, intercept!"

"*Jawohl!*" Nightcrawler exclaimed, and he 'ported away, into the path of the little shadow.

"Easy, little *fraulein*." He said, "ve aren't going to..."

The little shadow gasped in alarm as she saw Nightcrawler, before she reached out and touched his face.

Nightcrawler instantly froze in place.

As the shadow ran away, Avalanche generated a mini-quake, causing her to trip.

"Look, kid." He said gently, walking over, "We're not looking for trouble..."

"Watch her hands, Avalanche," Cyclops warned, "that's how she got Nightcrawler."

"Got it." Avalanche said.

Superman's eyes widened. "Avalanche, watch out!"

Just then, a taller shadow darted towards Avalanche, grabbing him from behind and holding a knife to his throat. "*Torpid, **run!***" the taller shadow – a female – ordered. At once, the smaller shadow ran for another pipe-tunnel.

"Spider-Man, block that tunnel!" Cyclops declared. Instantly, Spider-Man fired a glob of webbing at the tunnel opening, blocking it with a web.

The taller shadow snarled, and held the knife closer to Lance's throat.

"You listen here, top-worlders." She growled, "you let her go, right now, or I'll...*ARRGGHH!*"

The shadow cried out in pain as her blade began to glow red with heat from Superman's invisible eye-rays, giving Avalanche time to break free of her grip. As Avalanche darted away, Cyclops fired an optic-blast, sending her flying. At once, Dazzler turned her palm-flare up to full intensity, shedding light on the situation.

They now could get a good look at their assailants. The taller shadow was a young woman, in her late teens, tall and lean, with fairly dark skin, and fairly long ebony hair, and one brown eye, the other eye covered by a black eye patch, clad in tattered black pants and an olive tank-top. The other shadow was a young girl, around 8 or 9, with long brown hair, frightened green eyes, and light skin, with fairly large hands – *much* too large for a child her age. She was wearing a simple pink t-shirt and a pair of dirty blue jean-overalls.

Cyclops frowned at the young woman.

"Okay, lady." He said, "you'd better tell us what you did with Ray, or else we'll..!"

"*Guys, CHILL!*"

Just then, Ray ran in between all of them, looking none the worse for wear.

"Everyone, relax!" he exclaimed.

"You okay, Ray?" Superman asked.

"Yeah, Big Blue; I'm fine."

"Ray." The young woman asked, glaring at Superman and the X-Men, "Who *are* these people?"

Ray half-glared at her.

"They're my *friends*, Callisto." He replied. "They came looking for me, like I *told* you they would if you didn't let me contact them and tell them I was okay!"

"Ray...do you *know* her?" Jean asked, perplexed.

Ray nodded. "Guys, this is Callisto, the leader of the Morlocks."

Shadowcat blinked. "The *who?*"

"The Morlocks." Callisto snapped. "We're the outcasts from your society; we live down here because it's the only place that we're *safe* from your persecution." Her glare hardened. "And now, even down *here* isn't safe from you!"

"Callisto, my friends are *not* the ones who took the others." Ray said firmly. "The Morlocks are mutants whose mutations are a bit more...obvious than most." he explained.

"Hold on." Superman said. "You said that we weren't the ones who took the others; what do you mean?"

Callisto scowled, as she looked him over. "So *you're* this 'Superman' that everyone keeps talking about; the one playing hero." she snapped. She looked him in the eyes. "We don't *need* your 'help,' top-worlder, and that goes for the *rest* of you!"

"In case you've forgotten, Callisto," Ray said softly, "*I'm* a 'top-worlder,' too. You wanted *my* help, didn't you?"

Callisto paused. "*You're* the only one we trust, Ray." she said.

"And *I* trust *them*." Ray replied. "Let them help."

Callisto frowned...and then nodded.

"Not here; we have to get back home." She said.

At that, the smaller girl shook her head rapidly. Callisto sighed, and knelt to the younger girl.

"Torpid." She said softly, "we've looked all over for your dollie; it'll take us hours to search this place, and we can't risk being out here..."

"Torpid lost her favorite doll, out here." Ray explained. "She was looking for it, just now."

Slowly, Superman knelt to the little girl's – Torpid's – height.

"You lost your dollie, out here?" He asked gently. Torpid hesitated for a moment, and then slowly nodded. Superman stood up. "Krypto?" he said.

Krypto instantly understood; he walked over to Torpid and started to sniff her – at first, Torpid cringed in fright, but calmed, as she realized that the dog wasn't going to hurt her. Once he'd gotten her scent, Krypto started to sniff around the room...and stopped by the west-side wall, next to a crack in the floor, and barked. Superman promptly walked over, knelt down, and reached into the hole in the floor.

Sure enough, there was a small, hand-stitched, well-loved child's doll at the bottom.

After retrieving the toy, Superman walked over to Torpid, followed by Krypto. "Is this it, honey?"

Torpid's eyes went wide, and reached out her hands for the toy. Superman smiled, and handed it to her. Torpid promptly took it, and hugged it to her, smiling to herself.

Callisto frowned. "If you're expecting a 'thank you,' you're wasting your time." She said grudgingly. "Torpid doesn't talk." Her expression became terribly sad. "Not even to *us*." She turned to go. "If you want to help, follow me." She finished. With that, she walked into a nearby tunnel.

"*Sheesh!*" Spider-Man said. "What flew up *her* butt?"

"Being forced to live down here for so long can make *anyone* sour, Little Red." Superman said.

Ray nodded.

"Before the Professor found me, I used to hang out with the Morlocks." He said. "They're good people; it's just that, after being driven away, they're a little...mistrustful of anyone from topside."

"And I guess whatever this problem is, it's got Callisto wound *extra* tight." Shadowcat observed.

"Hopefully, we can help with this problem." Cyclops said. "Let's go." With that, they all started to follow Callisto, including Nightcrawler, who had recovered from Torpid's paralysis.

Dazzler and Superman were the last to go. Dazzler smiled at Superman. "That was a really sweet thing to do, *tausha*." she cooed.

Superman smiled back.

"No job is too small." He replied. "How are you feeling, *taushi?*"

"Better." Dazzler said. "Hopefully, these attacks will just lay off until we're done here..."

"*Th-Thank you...*"

Superman and Dazzler both stopped at that tiny whisper. Superman turned around, and saw Torpid there, holding her doll, looking up at him. "What?" Superman asked.

Torpid looked nervous, as if she thought she'd done something wrong...before she very softly whispered, "*Thank you...*"

Superman smiled warmly. "Oh, you're very welcome, sweetheart." he replied. At that, Torpid lightly smiled, before she hurried ahead of them, following Callisto.

Before long, Callisto had led them into a large chamber, spherical in shape, with two levels, with several smaller openings – *dwellings* – on each level. "This is our home." Callisto said.

Gambit whistled. "Ain' too shabby."

Callisto frowned. "It may not be what you top-worlders would call home, but it's all we have."

"Must you be so cynical, Callisto?"

Callisto's eyes widened momentarily as a tall, lean man, in his mid fifties, walked into view. His hair was fairly long, and grey, with a short white goatee beard. His eyes were a bright green, and he wore a slightly tattered, black, long-sleeved priestly robe, with a white collar, and a simple wooden cross about his neck. Next to him stood a 16-year-old young man, of average height, though somewhat frail, with pale skin, dark eyes, and a bald head, clad in tattered brown pants and a brown t-shirt.

"Healer...I wasn't expecting you back so soon." Callisto said.

The older man – Healer – smiled gently. "My excursion topside did not take as long as I expected." he said. His expression turned grave. "Caliban has just informed me that Lucid, too, has been taken."

Callisto nodded.

"That's *four* missing, now." She said. "We got Ray to help us...but his friends came looking for him."

Healer nodded. "Perhaps their coming is a blessing." He said. "Surely they can help us rescue our friends."

Callisto slowly nodded. "I suppose."

"What exactly has happened?" Cyclops asked.

"In these past few weeks, several of our fellow Morlocks have been taken away." Healer explained. "Only a few days ago, our friend Lucid was taken."

Callisto nodded. "By top-worlders." she said bitterly.

Healer gave her a disapproving glance. "We have searched high and low for them, but to no avail." He continued. "Undoubtedly, whoever it was who took them will try to do them harm..."

"We'll help you." Superman said.

Cyclops nodded in agreement. "Superman, do you think Krypto's nose is up to the task?"

Superman smiled, and looked to Krypto. "What do you say, boy?"

Krypto barked.

"You said that your friend Lucid was most recently taken, right?" Spider-Man said. "Got anything belonging to him?"

"I think so." Callisto said. "But I'm coming with you; it's *our* people who are missing." With that, she headed off.

Healer looked apologetic. "I hope you aren't too offended by Callisto; you must understand – her story of how she came to live here is likely the saddest of all."

Just then, Torpid walked up to Healer, smiling, as she held out her doll. Healer smiled.

"Why, Torpid, you found your dollie!" He exclaimed. "Now, what did I tell you? Didn't I say that St. Anthony would help you find it?"

Torpid shook her head, and then pointed to Superman. Healer looked to him, and smiled.

"Thank you for helping Torpid." He said. "Heaven knows, there's little enough joy down here without Torpid losing what little she has."

Superman smiled. "It's what we do."

"But, how did you all come to live down here?" Spyke asked.

Healer sighed. "I'm afraid it's all just a variation of the same story; young mutants whose gifts are more pronounced than others were cast out by their families. Eventually, we find them, and they come to live with us. We haven't much, but all those who are cast out from society are welcome here."

The young man – Caliban – looked uncomfortable. "You...not like us..." He whispered, pointing to Superman.

Superman lightly smiled. "I'm afraid not."

"So, how *did* Callisto come to live down here?" Shadowcat asked.

Healer sighed. "As I said, that is a very sad story." he said. "From what she's told me, her mother perished when she was only a little girl, leaving only her father, who could *hardly* be considered 'Father of the Year.' A few years ago, her powers manifested when she was in her early teens; Callisto had an exceptional ability to see in the dark, as well as a limited healing ability."

"Callisto discovered the latter during one of her father's more vicious...outbursts."

Healer lowered his gaze. "At that time, I was a humble minister, whose parish had been shut down." He continued. "I found her in an alley...with her eye cut out."

No-one dared speak at that.

"Callisto had run away from home after that...incident." Healer finished. "Her healing powers weren't enough to heal her eye; between the blood loss and infection setting in, I feared she would not last long, so I stayed with her, and simply held her hands, and told her that she was going to Someone who loved her more than *anything*." He lightly smiled. "Suddenly, her wound began to heal; the bleeding stopped, and the infection vanished. At the time, I thought it was a miracle...though I later learned that I, too, was a mutant, with the ability to mend almost any illness or injury – *almost*, since I could not repair Callisto's eye. Since then, we have taken in those young mutants cast out from their homes, with Callisto as their leader, and I as a teacher, and a spiritual advisor, though I do occasionally venture topside to work the odd job, here and there; it is difficult, but if it means that my 'parish' can eat without rifling through dumpsters, then I am for it."

No-one spoke for what felt like a long time. "No *wonder* Callisto doesn't trust people from the surface." Dazzler said softly.

"*God,*" Spider-Man murmured, "You think you've seen the *worst* that humanity can come up with...and *then* you hear something like *this*..."

Ray nodded.

"It took her *ages* just to let me hang out with the others." He said. "My parents were divorcing, and I was hanging out with a gang...until Healer found me and talked some sense into me. A little later, my powers manifested, which is how Professor X found me."

Just then, Callisto came back, carrying a tattered green t-shirt.

"This is one of Lucid's shirts." She said, handing it to Superman. "I hope your dog's nose is as good as you think it is."

Superman smiled. "We'll know soon, won't we?" he replied. Taking the shirt, he knelt down by Krypto, holding it out to him. "Okay, boy," he said, "this is what Lucid smells like."

Krypto took a few good sniffs...and then barked, scampering off. "Wow, that *is* a good nose!" Rogue exclaimed.

"I'll stay here, and wait for you guys." Ray said. "Good luck!" With that, Superman, Spider-Man, the X-Men and Callisto all ran after Krypto, following him to the missing Morlocks.

Within minutes, Superman had taken to the sky, following Krypto from the air, with Spider-Man web-swinging after him, followed by the X-Men and Callisto in the X-Van. After a few minutes, Krypto stopped a few meters away from an old, abandoned factory building in the industrial sector of New York...with two armed guards outside the door.

Two guards with black arm-bands bearing the white letters 'F.O.H.'

After spotting the factory, Krypto moved away, out of sight, before flying up to the rooftop where Superman and the others were watching the factory, safely out of sight.

"So, those F.O.H. guys are behind this." Spyke muttered.

"*Merde.*" Gambit said. "Gambit don' like dis one *bit*."

"Can you see anything, Superman?" Cyclops asked.

Superman's eyes flashed electric blue as he scanned the building.

"I see the four missing Morlocks." He reported. "They're okay; they're in a room in the back of the building. There's a back-entrance to the building...but it's protected by an alarm. The control-box is on top of the building..." he glanced down, and saw that the guards were watching the sky as well as the ground, "...but there's no way to fly over without them seeing any of us. The only way to fly up to it is to do so from the side."

"I could put them to sleep." Jean suggested.

Gambit shook his head. "Sorry, chere; dem guards likely got t' report in ev'ry few minutes – if dey miss reportin', den de higher-ups get suspicious."

"We need a distraction." Cyclops said.

At that, Superman smiled. "I think I have an idea..."

Outside the doors to the F.O.H.'s research facility, the two night guards were getting bored. "*God*, how long until this shift is over?" one whined.

"Stop whining, Frankie." The other muttered. "You're just making it seem *longer.*"

"Hey, Mike, why do we have to watch the *sky?*" Frankie asked.

"Because there's a bunch of muties that are teamed with that *flying* freak."

"*Whoa!* You mean...the guy's *real?*"

"Yeah." Mike muttered. "So *shut* it and *watch*. We don't want him or *any* muties showing up..."

Suddenly, a crash echoed in the distance, causing both men to draw their weapons. "Command, we have a situation here!" Frankie cried into his walkie-talkie.

"*What's going on, down there?!*" came the reply.

Just then, a white dog walked into view.

Groaning, Mike took out his walkie-talkie.

"False alarm, Command." He said. "It was just some dumb dog; Frankie's just overreacting, again."

"*Scan it and be sure.*" came the reply. "*Some mutant scum can shape-shift; see if it has the mutant gene.*"

Sighing, Mike took out his hand-scanner; it was a new invention, capable of detecting the mutant X-Gene – it was a smaller version of the device that the prototype weapons being developed would use, when they were completed. "The pooch checks out, Command. No X-Gene, here."

"*Good. Command out.*"

Muttering to himself, Mike shouted, "Go on, pooch! Beat it!" With that, the dog ran away, off to the side of the building, leaving the two of them to their watch.

Krypto quickly made his way to the back of the building, where the others were waiting, after having crossed to the roof and deactivated the alarm while the guards were looking at Krypto. "God work, boy!" Superman said, scratching his dog's ears.

"Let's go." Cyclops said. "We have to make this quick, before anyone notices that we're here." With that, they all headed through the open door, into the building.

In the observation room, Graydon Creed stood watching the screens that showed the four test-subjects, as well as the screens showing the four 'enhanced' soldiers. "Will they be ready for the tests soon, doctor?"

The scientist smiled.

"They're just about ready *now*, sir!" He reported happily.

Graydon smiled. "*Good.*" he said. "Once this test is complete, we should be able to..." His voice trailed off as he saw one screen, showing a feed from a video camera.

The screen showed several people entering the building...including one in a *red-and-blue uniform, with a long red cape..!*

Graydon's face twisted in fury.

"Sound the alarm!" He ordered. "Those freaks are here!"

"Wait, sir!" the scientist exclaimed. "This is an *opportunity!* We have a chance to test the men against one of the most powerful mutants that we know about! We *mustn't* pass this chance up!"

Graydon calmed at that. The scientist was right; they knew next to *nothing* about that mutant's *full* capabilities. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files didn't carry *any* reference to it.

They couldn't pass this up.

"They're likely here to rescue the others." Graydon said. "Wait until they're in the room, and *then* let the men loose."

Graydon smiled coldly as he watched those muties. '*This will be **amusing***'

Once they were inside the building, the little band made their way down a rusted metal walkway, over numerous boilers and turbines...which were *active*.

"Well, *somebody's* up to something." Spider-Man said.

"See anything, Big Blue?" Nightcrawler asked.

"They're just down this corridor." Superman said.

"Dis ain' right." Gambit muttered. "Dere outta be more guards, but dis place be quieter den a *graveyard.*"

"He's right." Callisto said. "Something's wrong."

"Everyone stay alert." Cyclops said. "Whatever these guys are up to, it *can't* be anything good." With that, they cautiously made their way down the corridor.

Eventually, the corridor led them to a large, steel door. Shadowcat simply phased her hand through the electronic lock, which shorted it out, causing the door to open. They all stepped through, and came into a large, open chamber, with the four missing Morlocks in the middle, none the worse for wear. One was a dark-skinned young woman, in her mid teens, with mid-length, tattered brown hair and brown eyes, clad in a beige sweater and tattered blue jeans. One was a young man, with spiky brown hair and a spiky beard, with dark blue eyes, clad in a blue t-shirt and tattered brown slacks. The third was a young woman, in her early teens, with mid-length dirty-blond hair, and amber eyes, wearing a white t-shirt and dirty blue jeans. And the fourth was a young man, almost frog-like in appearance, with brown hair, clad in blue jeans and a tattered white t-shirt.

Callisto instantly ran to them. "Cybelle, Facade, Scaleface, Lucid, are you all okay?"

"*Callisto?*" The first young woman – Cybelle – exclaimed. "What are you *doing* here?"

"Who are *they?*" Facade – the pointy-bearded youth – asked.

"We're here to help." Superman said.

"Did they hurt you?" Jean asked.

The second girl – Scaleface – shook her head. "No; they just tossed us in here."

"Why?" Dazzler asked.

"I think I might know." Lucid said softly. "I heard them mention it before I blacked out; they said they needed us for some 'test'."

"A test?" Spider-Man repeated. "What kind of test would *these* sickos need to do?"

Suddenly, Krypto started to growl, as Superman's hearing started to pick something up.

"Guys?" He said. "We've got trouble."

Just then, four large panels opened up in the walls...as four *enormously* muscular men walked out. Their veins were glowing a sickly green, just like their eyes.

Spider-Man groaned. "I *had* to ask, didn't I?"

"*Holy..!*" Spyke yelled. "What have those guys been *eating?!*"

The giants snarled at them...before roaring in sheer fury, and charging at them.

At once, Jean raise a TK-shield, to hold the giants back, as Dazzler reinforced her shield with a hard-light barrier.

"Callisto, get your friends *out* of here!" Cyclops shouted.

"I told you that this was *our* problem!" Callisto shouted back. "Lucid, Facade, you two clear out of here; you can't help us! Scaleface, Cybelle, you two stay and help!" As Lucid and Facade moved clear, Scaleface suddenly *changed*, becoming a massive six-foot-tall alligator-like humanoid. Scaleface ran at the first giant just as he broke through Jean and Dazzler's barrier, meeting his charge head-on; the giant snarled in hate, and slowly started to push Scaleface back...

Superman darted towards the giant, slamming him with a haymaker, knocking him back. Before he could press the attack, a second giant tackled him and held on, crashing through several walls. As the first giant started to get up, Nightcrawler 'ported onto his shoulder; the giant roared in fury, and tried to grab him, but Nightcrawler 'ported away, and then executed a mid-air kick to the giant's head, enraging him...and distracting him long enough for Spider-Man to fire a web-line around his ankles, wrapping up his feet. As the giant stumbled back, Spider-Man executed a somersault-kick to the giant's face, stunning him, before Scaleface *slammed* him with her reptilian tail. "*Boy*, am I glad to know that there *are* alligators in the sewers!" Spider-Man joked, causing Scaleface to chuckle.

The second giant knocked Superman through several walls before Superman leaned backwards and *threw* the giant off of him, promptly doing a handspring, getting back on his feet. Roaring, the giant came at him with a punch, but Superman ducked under it, and slammed his fist into the giant's abdomen, causing the giant to cringe, stopping in his tracks, before Superman *slammed* his face with the follow-up punch, sending him flying a good fifty feet, crashing into rusted machinery. The giant recovered quickly, and charged at him again, but Superman unleashed his gale-breath, pushing the giant back. The giant snarled in hate, and rushed at him once more, but Superman caught his punch, and then rolled the motion into a throw, tossing him back towards the way they came.

As the infuriated giant got up, Krypto pounced on him from behind, and bit into his shoulder; the giant roared in agony as Krypto's teeth tore into his flesh, causing glowing green blood to spill from the wound.

*Kryptonite!*

The presence of the deadly element caused Superman and Krypto to leap back. '*So, these guys are experimenting with Kryptonite.*' Superman thought. Luckily, the Kryptonite-irradiated blood didn't contain enough Kryptonite to be harmful to him; most of its radiation had been absorbed by this unfortunate soul – its presence was simply giving him a headache.

But it was still an unnerving thought.

Shazam flew through and slammed the second giant into a wall, knocking him out cold.

As the third giant charged at Avalanche, Cybelle moved behind him, and placed her hands on the floor; almost instantly, the ground under the giant's feet started to melt, and become soft, corroding with Cybelle's touch. Avalanche grinned, and took advantage of Cybelle's tactic, generating a mild-strength earthquake...which tore open the softened ground, trapping the giant in a fissure. Avalanche gave a thumbs-up to Cybelle...

...and then grimaced as the giant climbed out of the fissure, madder than *ever*. As the man-monster stomped towards Avalanche, Spyke generated a bone-spear, and threw it at the giant, who simply swatted it aside. As the giant grew closer, Callisto grabbed the discarded bone-spear, and leapt onto the monster's back, using the spear to start choking him. The giant roared in fury, and tried to throw Callisto off, but Callisto held on tight. After about a minute, the giant finally managed to toss Callisto off. The monster roared in anger...which turned to a grunt of confusion, as he suddenly sank into the floor up to his shoulders.

Shadowcat phased back up through the floor. "All yours, Gambit!"

In seconds, Gambit had closed on the giant, just as he was starting to break free. Gambit grinned as he drew five cards from his deck, charged them, and stuck them to the giant's chest. The giant could only grunt in bewilderment...seconds before the cards detonated, sending him flying across the room, out cold. "Guess dat wasn' a good 'and." Gambit said. "Bad luck, *mon ami.*"

Cyclops opened his visor and blasted the fourth man-monster as Jean levitated the giant off of the floor, immobilizing him and amplifying the impact of Cyclops' blast...but the giant didn't seem to even *feel* it.

"I...can't hold him..." Jean said, "...he's too heavy..."

"Try to shut his mind down!" Cyclops exclaimed, as he fired another blast, trying to stun him.

Jean concentrated...and shook her head.

"His rage is too strong; I can't get through!" She cried. "I'm losing him..!"

The giant broke free of Jean's telekinetic grip, and stomped towards her and Cyclops...but was knocked back by an off-white energy beam.

Dazzler's eyes narrowed as she glared at the giant.

"This is the *first* time I've fought you 'F.O.H.' guys." She said, "And I can't stand you *already.*" With that, she fired a pair of constant energy beams from her hands, pushing the giant back. The giant roared, and slowly started to walk towards Dazzler, resisting her beams.

Dazzler focused *more* energy into her beams, but the giant kept coming. She was giving it all that she had, but it wasn't enough...

Suddenly, something just *clicked* in her body, and her beams shut off, as the energy was automatically redirected through the new pathway that had just opened up...

Dazzler's eyes glowed a brilliant gold, before she unleashed a pair of deadly golden rays from her eyes, striking the giant with ten *times* as much force as her previous beams. The attack sent the now-singed giant flying across the room, crashing into the wall. As the giant tried to stumble to his feet, Rogue simply removed her glove, and tapped her hand to the giant's face, knocking him out.

"How did...?" Shazam asked.

Jean looked to Dazzler, her eyes wide. "I...didn't know you could channel energy through your eyes..."

Dazzler's eyes were even *wider*. "Neither did I..."

Once the last man-monster was down, the weary band started to regroup.

"Let's get out of here." Cyclops said, "before these guys get their second wind." With that, they all turned to go...

...and stopped as dozens of black-clad soldiers, all wearing F.O.H. armbands, poured into the room. "You muties aren't going *anywhere!*" One soldier yelled. "We're going to..!"

"*RRRRRRAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRR!*"

The deafening roar cut the soldier off as the second giant – the one that Superman and Krypto had dispatched – lumbered into view. The giant roared again, and leapt at the soldiers, blindly slamming them with his fists, sending them flying.

"He's gone berserk!" One soldier cried. "Someone get the tranquilizers before he – "

The soldier was cut off as the giant slammed him with his fist, knocking him into a nearby turbine, which set off a cascade of sparks...igniting an electrical fire, which caused the soldiers to scatter, running screaming for the exits.

"We'll handle the big guy!" Cyclops exclaimed. "Superman, you put that fire out!"

"On it!" Superman replied. To Spider-Man, he added, "You up for it, Little Red?"

"You know it, Big Blue!" Spider-Man replied. With that, the two of them moved to the fire, followed by Krypto.

The X-Men surrounded the man-monster, ready for anything he might try...but they needn't have bothered; the giant moaned in agony, dropping to his knees, clutching his head...as glowing green blood leaked out of his ears, from a *massive* cerebral hemorrhage. Then, he collapsed.

He was gone.

After quickly surveying the fire, Superman inhaled, and then unleashed his frost-breath on the fire, coating the turbines with frost. As he did so, Spider-Man fired globs of webbing onto the flames, smothering them. Within minutes, the flames had been suppressed enough for Krypto to safely pull the injured soldier to safety. The soldier recovered quickly, having suffered only minor burns – fortunately – and ran off.

Suddenly, Superman's eyes widened in horror. "Spider-Man, watch out..!"

Spider-Man's spider-sense went *nuts*...seconds before part of the turbine exploded towards him. Spider-Man managed to duck away from the flaming metal...but part of his mask had caught fire! Quickly, Superman exhaled a burst of frost-breath, extinguishing his comrade's mask, before putting out the rest of the fire. "You okay, Spider-Man?" he asked.

"Ugh...yeah, I'm fine." Spider-Man replied, dazed. Slowly, he turned towards Superman...who got the shock of his *life*.

Half of Spider-Man's mask had been burned off, revealing the slightly sooty face of Peter Parker. '*Well...this explains a few things...*'

Slowly, Spider-Man's – Peter's – eyes widened in horror, as he realized what had happened. "*Holy..!*" He cried, covering the exposed part of his face.

"It's okay." Superman assured him. "You can trust me." At that, Spider-Man calmed.

"Let's get out of here." Superman added.

"Hey, you don't need to tell *me* twice!" Spider-Man quipped. With that, the entire group headed out of the building.

It didn't take long for the entire band to regroup on top of the adjacent building. "Thank you for helping us." Callisto said.

Spider-Man shrugged. "Hey, it's what we do!"

"Just wait for us in the X-Van." Cyclops instructed. "We'll be with you, shortly; we'll drop you off and pick Ray up." Callisto nodded at that, and she and the other Morlocks headed off, towards the X-Van on the ground below.

Once the Morlocks had left, Spider-Man took a deep breath. "So...can I trust you guys to keep quiet about me?"

Superman just smiled. "That's a *given*, Pete."

Peter's exposed eye widened.

"H-How did you know my name?" He stammered.

"*That's* part of why you can trust us." Superman said, his smile growing. "To be honest, I'm surprised you haven't figured it out, before." With that, he simply reached to the back of his belt, took out his glasses – he was *glad* that he always kept them with him when he changed clothes, for once – and put them on.

Peter's eyes widened in utter shock. "*You're...you're...*"

"I know who I am." Superman said, taking off his glasses. To the X-Men, he added, "I believe you've heard me mention my coworker at the newspaper."

Without saying a thing, he'd said everything; the X-Men nodded in understanding.

Slowly, Peter smiled.

"Aw, man...all *along!*" He laughed. "You'd think those specs wouldn't be that great of a disguise, but they *work!*"

Superman shrugged.

"What can I say?" He asked. He smiled. "You can trust me – *all* of us." He chuckled. "Like you said, we have to stick together!"

Spider-Man laughed.

"True enough!" He said. "You can trust me, too, bro; I will not tell a *soul!*" He chuckled. "No matter *how* much MJ tries to pry it out of me!"

Cyclops smiled.

"Why not join the Institute?" He suggested. "We'd love to have you!"

Spider-Man smiled, but shook his head.

"Thanks, but...no, thanks." He replied. "You guys are awesome, but I'm okay right where I am." He chuckled. "Besides, *technically*, I'm not a mutant; my powers came from an irradiated spider who thought my wrist looked like lunch. I'm not sure if I fit the criteria!"

Superman chuckled. "Hey, technically, neither do *I!*"

Spider-Man arched an eyebrow.

"No kidding?" He asked. "What's your story, Big Blue?"

Superman's smile became a bit forced. "Well...I'm the sole survivor of the planet Krypton."

Spider-Man's smile evaporated. "Oh my God...I-I'm so sorry...I didn't know..."

"It's okay." Superman said. "I've more or less come to terms with it."

Dazzler smiled at Superman, before turning to Spider-Man.

"Thanks for the assist, Spidey!" She said.

"Hey, no problem!" Spider-Man replied. "Catch you guys on the flip side!" To Superman, he added, "See you at work, tomorrow!" With that, he shot out a web-line, and swung off.

"Well, this has been an interestin' evening." Rogue said.

Gambit chuckled. "Amen t' *dat*, *cherie.*"

Dazzler smiled. "And we owe it all to Krypto." she said, before reaching down to scratch behind Krypto's ears. "Good boy!" Krypto panted happily at that.

Spyke smiled. "All's well that ends well."

Cyclops nodded. "Let's get out of here, guys..."

"*EEEEEEEEEYYYYYAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!*"

Dazzler's blood-curdling scream cut the air, as the others turned to Alison, who was curled up in a fetal position, with Krypto whimpering softly by her side, gently licking her face, trying to comfort her. Alison's eyes were scrunched in agony, her hands to the side of her head, tears flowing down her face.

"*Ali!*" Superman cried, rushing to her side, and gently lifting her into his arms. "*Taushi*, what's wrong?"

"*Make them stop...*" Dazzler whimpered tearfully, "*...all the noises...**please**, Clarkie, make them stop...*"

"Noises, what is she-?" Green Lantern inquired, not understanding what the problem was.

Her words were terribly familiar, sending haunting echoes through Superman's mind...

*"Make them stop, Pa!" an 8-year-old Clark Kent had cried, as his Pa held him. "Please, make the noises **stop**!"*

"I will, Ali." Superman promised. "I will."

Shadowcat looked stricken.

"Oh my *God*, poor Ali." She said. "I wish we knew what was wrong..."

"I think I do." Superman said, standing up, with his crying *taushi* in his arms. "I'm taking Ali back to the Institute. You guys follow when you can." With that, he took to the sky, heading for the Institute, followed by Krypto, while the X-Men headed for the X-Van, to bring the Morlocks home.

It was several hours after Superman, Spider-Man, and the X-Men had left when Callisto and the missing Morlocks returned home.

"Guys!" Ray called, rushing over to greet his old friends. "Are you okay?"

Lucid smiled. "We're fine, Ray." he said. "Thanks to your pals."

Ray smiled. "Yeah, they're pretty awesome."

"They're waiting for you topside." Callisto said. She half-smiled. "They're alright, I suppose."

Ray smiled. "Hey, when one of 'em can get Torpid to say thanks, you *know* they're a good bunch."

Callisto's eyes went wide.

"*What?*" She cried. "Torpid...*spoke?*"

"Like she'd been doing it all her life." Ray said. He smiled. "Take care, guys. I'll try to stay in touch." With that, he headed off.

Quickly, Callisto hurried off, looking for Torpid. After a few minutes' search, she found Torpid in her own chamber, lying on the floor, coloring on a sheet of paper with a set of crayons that Healer had found for her on one of his excursions topside.

Callisto knelt by Torpid, smiling gently. "Torpid?" she asked softly. "Today, when that...when Superman found your dolly...did you...say something to him?"

Torpid looked up from her coloring...and just smiled.

Callisto smiled back.

"Okay, sweetie." She cooed. "Whenever you're ready." With that, she stood up to go.

"Raymond told me." Healer said from the doorway, smiling.

Callisto turned to look at him. "I...I never thought that she would *ever* speak..." she whispered.

Healer smiled. "Hope has a way of making the impossible possible, again." he said. Then, he glanced to Torpid, and his smile grew. "Oh, Torpid, that's *lovely!*"

Turning, Callisto couldn't help but smile. Torpid had finished her coloring, and had stood up, holding her picture for all to see, with a big smile. Her picture consisted of simple stick-people...but Callisto could recognize all the other Morlocks; they were all drawn on one side of the sheet, and on the other side were all the X-Men, and in the middle of the picture was a little stick-girl – Torpid – holding the stick-Callisto's hand in one hand, and the stick-Superman's hand in the other. The picture's title was simple: on the top was scribbled the words, "My Family."

Callisto fought back tears as she hugged Torpid. "You're absolutely *right*, sweetie." she said. "And don't ever forget it." Torpid smiled, and she returned the hug. Callisto's smile could only *grow* as Torpid hugged her.

'*Superman...thank you...*'

*Undisclosed location*

It hadn't taken long for the Friends of Humanity to relocate to their emergency base.

Graydon Creed scowled as the lead scientist entered the observation chamber. "What is the status on the four soldiers, doctor?"

The scientist lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry, sir...but one of them is dead; cerebral hemorrhage from a brain tumor – it must have formed after the fourth infusion. As for the other three...they have tumors forming all over, sir; they won't last long."

Graydon put his hand to his forehead.

"Is there *any* good news?!" He yelled.

The scientist weakly smiled. "Well...we *did* manage to observe the flying mutant's powers."

Graydon calmed. "And?"

The scientist looked stricken. "Well, sir...based on everything we've seen – between our initial encounter with him and today's incident – I can safely say that...well...he's an Omega-Class, sir; no doubt about it." he said. "We've seen strength *well* in excess of the four soldiers, as well as supersonic speed – on land *and* in the air – invulnerability, gale-force and freezing exhalations...and who knows *what* else?! He could likely overpower the *Juggernaut!*"

*That* caught Graydon's attention. He knew of the mutant Cain Marko – "Juggernaut" – the only other Omega-Class mutant that S.H.I.E.L.D. knew of; he'd been planning to let Marko loose in the future, to get rid of Charles Xavier *and* show *just* how dangerous mutants were.

If this freak could take *him* on...

"But there's *another* interesting tidbit, sir." The scientist continued. He tapped a few keys, bringing up a video file...

...showing the freak and his dog leaping away from the irradiated blood of the soldier he'd been fighting...the blood *laced with the alien element.*

Graydon smiled coldly.

"*He doesn't like that stuff...*" He said. "Well *done*, Doctor!" Graydon turned to the glass case holding the green crystal – the only sample they had left. It wasn't enough to continue with this program...but with this new knowledge...

"Sir?" the doctor reported. "We've just gotten a file from our benefactor; I think you may want to look at this, sir!"

Intrigued, Graydon walked to the computer, and glanced over the file...and smiled; this file detailed how to make a *weapon* with the purified element.

"Get this to Dr. Trask *immediately.*" Graydon ordered. He smiled to himself. It was too late for Trask to incorporate such a weapon in his most recent line, and there was only enough element to outfit *one* of the weapons...but with what they'd just learned...

...*one* was all they *needed.*

Shortly after Superman had brought Dazzler to the Institute's infirmary, she had passed out. If the problem was what he thought it was, then he couldn't blame her.

Superman had left Alison in Hank's care momentarily, while he'd dropped by the Fortress; he needed a few things to test his theory.

He was ashamed of himself for not suspecting it, sooner; the hearing and the eye-rays had started to clue him in, but he *had* to be sure.

After he'd gotten back and given Hank the data he needed to run the test, he'd sat by Alison on her infirmary cot, holding her hand. By then, the X-Men had gotten back, and were waiting with him, as well as Ororo, Thunderbird, Banshee, Logan, and Professor Xavier.

After several hours, Alison woke up.

"Ugh..." she moaned. "My head is *killing* me..."

Superman smiled. "I can imagine, baby."

Alison smiled weakly.

"Hi, baby." She whispered. "What's going on?"

"You gave us a scare, Ali." Cyclops said.

"Clark thinks he knows what's wrong." Shadowcat said.

Dazzler looked to Superman. "Clarkie?"

Just then, Hank walked in. "Clark...you were *right*."

Kurt looked confused. "Right about *vat?*"

Superman took a deep breath; he *had* to be sure... "Ali..." He said gently, as he took out a crystal-processor from the Fortress, "...will you please touch this?"

Alison blinked, confused. "Okay..." Slowly, she took off one of her gloves, and then reached out, and touched the crystal with her fingertip.

Instantly, the crystal's holographic interface flared to life, circling the crystal.

All the X-Men gasped.

Alison's eyes went wide. "C-Clark?" She stammered. "I...I thought humans *couldn't* use your technology..."

Superman smiled gently. "They *can't*."

"W...Wha..?" Alison whimpered.

"Let me tell you about your attacks, Ali." Superman said softly. "Sometimes, it's as if you're hearing *everything*; your ears are picking up *every single sound* around you, and it feels like your brain is going to explode from all that sound. Other times, it's as if your eyes are seeing a lot more than what they're supposed to...and it scares the *hell* out of you."

"How...how can you know that, Clark?!" Alison cried.

Superman held her hands. "Because, *taushi*...that's what it was like for *me.*"

Gambit's eyes went wide. "*Merde...*"

"Clark..." Jean murmured, "...are you saying what I *think* you're saying?"

"The data Clark gave me was a map of the Kryptonian genome." Hank said. "It let me run a genetic comparison of the human genome and Alison's DNA." He took a deep breath. "The overall human genome is 0.0000005 percent similar to Kryptonian DNA."

"*Alison's* DNA, however, is *8* percent similar – *far* too much to be caused by random convergence."

Alison couldn't speak.

Superman smiled lovingly. "Baby," he whispered, "you're *part Kryptonian*; you're a descendant of Kon-Lir."

Hank nodded, smiling.

"It explains *everything*." He said. "Your Kryptonian DNA wasn't strong enough on its own for you to have the same powers as Clark; based on a body-scan I did earlier, you have the same kind of energy-transfer system, but you're missing the genes that let you absorb solar energy from the sun." His smile grew. "And then your X-Gene became active, Alison. Once your body started transmuting sound energy to light energy, your energy-transfer system started to wake up! Based on the gene-map provided, you'll be capable of incredible strength and speed, though not *quite* on par with Clark, since you're part human. Also, you'll have incredible durability, though, as I said, not as much as a full Kryptonian. You should be capable of gale-force breath, but not freezing breath; your hearing and vision will be the same as a full Kryptonian's; you will be capable of flight, and, as we've seen, you're capable of eye-rays, though, as before, not *quite* as powerful as Clark's." He grinned. "*However*, Alison, you *should* be *immune* to the effects of Kryptonite; since you lack the ability to directly absorb solar power, your body will not absorb Kryptonite radiation properly, either, rendering you immune..."

This was all just too much for Alison; suppressing a sob, she got up from the cot, and ran out of the infirmary.

Hank grimaced. "Oh, dear. I was babbling, wasn't I?"

"Ya *think?*" Logan said.

Superman got up. "I'll go talk to her." he said. With that, he ran after her, heading out of the infirmary.

Alison's head was *spinning*; this didn't make *sense*. '*I'm...part **alien...***' she thought. '*Oh my God...did my father know? Did my mother know? What **am** I?!*'

Alison suppressed another sob, as tears started to leak from her eyes. She was so *confused*...

"*Taushi?*"

Alison stopped as Superman hurried up to her.

"Ali, I *know* this can be hard to take in." He said softly. "It was hard for me, too..."

That made Alison's self-pitying thoughts stop *dead* in their tracks. Clark was a Kryptonian, *too*. And she'd just started freaking out about being part of *his race...*

"Oh, *God*, Clark, I'm so *sorry!*" Alison wailed, burying her head in his chest. "I was j-just so freaked *out*...and I panicked...but it wasn't anything *against* *you*...I just...*oh, God!*"

"Oh, *taushi*, don't apologize." Superman whispered, holding her close. "You have *nothing* to apologize *for*." He gently kissed her forehead. "You were *confused*. I was, too."

Just then, a tiny whine filled the air, as Krypto gently nuzzled his nose against Alison's leg, trying to comfort her. Alison smiled weakly. "No wonder Krypto liked me; I smelled familiar – *he* knew before anyone else."

Superman smiled.

"There was another reason why I brought this crystal here, Ali." He said. "Ever since I first entered the Fortress, there was *always* one file that I could never open; I later learned that it was encoded to only activate to the touch of a Kryptonian *female.*" He held the crystal out to her. "Whatever this is, it was meant for *you*."

Slowly, Alison touched the crystal, bringing up the interface.

"Oh, *God*..." Alison murmured, "...I have no *idea* how to use this..."

Superman smiled, and gently guided her hand to one glowing symbol. Alison smiled back, and touched it. Instantly, the crystal began to glow brighter, and started to float, before it generated the image of a tall, elegantly built woman, with long, ebony hair, clad in a long, slim black gown. Alison had a sneaking suspicion of who it was...

"*I do not know if this message will ever be heard.*" the woman said. "*I do not know if any female descendants of Kon-Lir exist. I do not even know if the ship carrying my child will reach Earth.*" The woman suppressed a sob as an earthquake echoed in the background. "*But now, as our world is dying...hope is all that I have...*"

Superman froze.

"*M-Mama?*" he whispered.

"*If you are hearing this message, then you have met my son.*" The woman continued. "*I am Lara, wife to Jor-El, and mother of Kal-El, the young man you have met. We are of the planet Krypton...a world that, by the time you hear this message, has been destroyed. You can hear this message, dear child, because you, too, carry the blood of the Kryptonian people in your veins.*"

"*Many years ago, a Kryptonian named Kon-Lir was stranded on your Earth.*" Lara continued. "*You are his descendant, dear one. Do not fear your heritage...for it is what links you to my son, the Last Son of Krypton.*"

"*My husband and I have sent Kal-El to your world, to escape Krypton's nearing demise. We chose Earth because your people are as we once were, because of Earth's yellow sun...and because, in a parent's desperate hope, we prayed that you existed, and that you would find each other.*"

"*I do not know if you exist, child,*" Lara pleaded, her eyes starting to fill with tears, "*but if you do, look after each other. You are surely the Last **Daughter** of Krypton, dear one; you and my son carry its legacy. Please, look after each other...and...tell my son...that his mother loves him...*" Lara suppressed a sob, "*...tell him that his mother loves him **without end...***"

"*Lara!*" a man's voice shouted, as another quake shook. "*There is **no time**! Kal has to go, **now!***"

Tearfully, Lara cried, "*Please! Look after each other, I **beg** you!*" Then, with that, the message ended.

Krypto softly whimpered, as both Alison and Superman fought back tears. Superman managed a smile. "My parents...were *hoping* for you, Ali." he whispered.

Alison lightly smiled. "I...I guess I know whether or not they would approve of me..."

Superman nodded.

"*Taushi*, you are descended from one of the most honored Houses on Krypton: the House of Lir...who were famous for their achievements in science...but *more* for their passion for and achievements in the *arts*." he said, and then he chuckled. "The only House *more* honored was the House of El."

Alison giggled. "Though you try not to brag." she teased. "It sounds like I'm a chip off the old space-block!"

Superman smiled, and then tapped the crystal. "Ali...this is *your* family crest." he said, as the crystal projected an image of a stylized letter 'P,' slanting to the right, with the loop of the 'P' angular, like a sideways square diamond, with two lines extending back from the loop.

Alison smiled.

"It's pretty cool." She cooed. Chuckling, she added, "But I like my Earth name, too."

Superman smiled. "Hey, I have an Earth name *and* a Kryptonian one."

Alison leaned her head on his chest.

"Then *you* give me a name, *tausha*." She cooed.

Superman thought for a moment...and then smiled warmly. "'*Alia Ka-Lir*'." He said. "'*Alia*' means 'blessing,' and '*Ka-Lir*' means 'upon Lir.'" He held her close. "You are a blessing to the House of Lir...and everyone *else* who knows you, for that matter."

Alison smiled radiantly. "I *love* it." she cooed. She leaned up on the tips of her toes. "And I love *you*...Kal-El."

"And I love *you*...Alia Ka-Lir." Superman replied, and then he leaned down, sealing her lips with his. After a few minutes of kissing, Superman ended the kiss, touching noses with her. "I'll be there for you, *taushi*, I promise; I'll help you through your powers."

Alison smiled. "I know you will." she cooed. Then, her eyes started to droop. "But...I'm a little tired, now..." Then, she fell asleep, leaning against him. Smiling, Superman gently lifted her into his arms, and carried her upstairs, to tuck her in.

It had been a long day for them *both*.

*Atlantic Ocean*

In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, out in international waters, a massive, green-and-grey metal aircraft hovered above the water's surface, its size rivaling that of the Helicarrier, the mighty Mobile Supreme Headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D. Upon the side of its hull was the crest of a grim steel mask.

On the bridge of his master-work of Latverian military technology – his answer to General Fury's Helicarrier – Victor von Doom sat in the command chair, overlooking this reconnaissance mission, as his loyal Doom-bots operated the controls. To his left, in a smaller chair, sat Anita, in her uniform, observing; it was good for his daughter to watch how a warship such as this was commanded – when her time to rule came, she would have to command from a warship as much as from a throne.

She would not be ruling *alone*, if Doom had his way.

"*Report.*" Doom ordered.

"*We have lost contact with Reconnaissance Unit 01.*" A Doom-bot reported. "*Last known contact was 45 miles from North Pole.*"

"*I see.*" Doom mused.

"Father?" Anita inquired. "This is the third time you have sent a drone to investigate the Pole. What are you looking for?"

"*In the past, my dear – including a few hours ago – I have tracked Kal-El's flight to the Pole.*" Doom answered. "*It was most difficult, but I managed to configure my satellites to track his flight, even at his highest known speeds. Furthermore, during the time that Kal-El made contact with Namor and his family, I detected him coming from the Pole, with a **massive** power-source – greater than ten **thousand** nuclear reactors. Shortly after, I detected Richards' team-vehicle leave the water...followed by an unidentified craft; both vehicles headed to the Pole.*"

Anita's eyes widened. "He must have a stronghold, there!"

"*Undoubtedly.*" Doom said. "*And if it is capable of remaining undetected to my satellites – as well as Fury's – then it must utilize the advanced technology of Kal-El's homeworld.*"

"*Lord Doom: Recon Unit 01 is returning.*"

"*Just like the other drones I sent to investigate...*" Doom mused. "*It will likely not have any useful data; whatever defenses his stronghold uses, it disables the drones' recording equipment.*"

"Did you plan on going there?" Anita inquired.

"*Hmm...presently, no.*" Doom said. "*If this stronghold's passive defenses are so formidable, then it would not be wise.*"

Anita nodded. "Have you discerned anything else, Father?"

"*Kal-El makes occasional trips to Kansas.*" Doom said. "*So far, my satellites have not located a specific location – he is gone before I can track him – but had I to venture a guess...*"

Anita smiled. "*Smallville!*"

"*Precisely.*" Doom said. "*This means, my child, that he once **lived** there...which means that, before he learned to fly...he walked the earth as any other man.*"

"A secret identity." Anita said. "Some name he uses to walk the streets unnoticed."

Doom nodded. "*Find the name he uses as a mask, and we have him.*" He said. "*Once Lensherr's plan for Kal-El and Genosha is complete, my dear, that will be your priority. Irene Adler's prophecy will go the way **we** wish it to go.*"

"Father?" Anita asked. "Perhaps she is wrong..."

"*Her prophecy is already beginning.*" Doom said. "*She told of seven others who would join with him; he has met **two** of them. One of them is surely Namor's cousin, Arthur. And several weeks previous, Kal-El visited...**Gotham.***"

Anita looked stricken. Several years before Kal-El had appeared, her father had visited Gotham...and had encountered its shadowy defender, the Batman.

Her Papa did *not* like to talk about that incident.

Anita quickly changed the subject. "Papa," she said, "once this plan is done...must we continue our alliance with Lensherr?"

"*No.*" Doom said. "*Once Lensherr achieves his goal of mutant domination, he will surely turn against me; remember, my child, by definition, I am not a mutant. Fanaticism as his can be an effective weapon, but a dangerous one, since it can easily turn on the wielder.*"

Anita smiled.

"I will *never* turn on you, Papa." She said, "but I am glad to hear you say that...because I have an idea." With that, she leaned closer to her Papa, and whispered it in his ear.

Doom lightly laughed. "*My sweet child, sometimes your cunning astounds even **me**; I would not want to be **your** enemy. And you are right; having such a 'loose cannon' in play will prove useful, later. I approve.*"

Anita smiled, and sweetly kissed her father on his metal cheek. "Thank you, Papa." she said. Her smile turned sly. "I promise; I will make you proud."

It was late at night, and everyone had turned in at the Institute, except Clark.

In Alison's room, Superman – still in uniform – lay with Alison, who hadn't changed out of her uniform, either; after he'd placed her on her bed, she'd sleepily pleaded with him to just stay with her for a while.

And so, here he was, with Alison – his Alia – curled up on his chest, looking so perfectly peaceful. Superman suppressed a smile; at the foot of the bed, curled up happily, was Krypto, who had chosen to keep them both company.

Suddenly, Superman froze, as his hearing picked up a distress call; Krypto also perked up – he'd heard it, too. Very gently, Superman slipped free from Alison's embrace, before lovingly covering her with the blankets. Smiling, he glanced to Krypto. "You up for this, boy?"

Krypto nodded his head.

Superman knelt to Krypto, to check some of the buttons on his collar; he hadn't had time to show Krypto *all* the extras he'd built into his collar.

"Okay, boy; when we're about to go to work, flick *this* button." he tapped one button on the collar, "With your paw." At once, Krypto sat back, and moved his back hind leg as if to scratch his ears, but instead pressed the button with his rear paw.

Instantly, countless nano-fibers extended back from the collar, interweaving to worm a dog-sized red cape, identical to his own.

Superman smiled.

"Well, Krypto." He said, "If you're going to be a Superdog, you should *look* the part!" Then, he headed out of Alison's room, and Krypto followed. Superman headed to the nearest window, and flew out; seconds later, Krypto flew out after him. Superman just smiled, as he and Krypto flew off, heading east, towards the emergency.

Someone needed their help.