Superman and all affiliated characters are copyrighted and trademarked by DC Comics, a subsidiary of AOL-Time Warner. This fan-fiction based series is written for fun and to improve my skills as a writer/author. I do not seek to make profits from these stories.

All-Star Superman #1 “Only the Beginning”

Metropolis was tranquil as it could ever be thanks to its greatest protector. However, despite the peaceful calm that exhibited over the city of tomorrow, Superman could not rest without making sure that all of its inhabitants were safe and sound. His ever watchful and alert gaze spanned all of the five boroughs of Metropolis, scanning for anything out of place. He flew upwards and his eyes turned to the dreaded Lexcorp tower that stood as testament of the dynasty of the Luthor family from Lionel to his son Lex. Distant explosions took the man of steel’s attention and he swiveled his head to his right. The entire slum and Hobbs bay had been engulfed in fire. Superman flew directly towards the area examining quickly and carefully what caused the explosion and the fire. With a gust of his super breath, he blew out the flames. Then with a spin, he drew up all the chemicals from the broken chemical drums into the air and displaced them inside of an empty water tower. Superman took one quick look over the area to see if any one was hurt, but there were no signs of a body amidst the wreckage. He took off heading skyward unaware of what floated in the bay.

---

Lois lit a cigarette and looked out the window of her expansive apartment. She looked back at her monitor and the paper she was writing. Superman: The Myth. She had written some fifteen pages every day since his appearance and it had made the longest article, she had ever written. Perry suggested she convert it into a book and sell it, but there was just something about the words on the screen that made them so private. Lois opened the door after being interrupted from her thoughts and Clark stood outside with his hair wet and slicked back. He looked at her behind those nerdy glasses that became the only recognizable thing to her.

“Hi, Clark.”

“Oh, hi Lois. I was wondering if you would to go and get a bit to eat.”

“Its late Clark.”

“I know,” Clark said as he shut the door behind him. “I just well…I guess I was wondering how you were doing.”

“I suppose I’m fine. I’m still wondering how I survived that reactor explosion.”

“Gee Lois. We all know it was thanks to Superman.”

“I know that’s what he said, but I didn’t…never mind.”

Clark fiddled with the tip of his derby. “Listen Lois. I know that close brush with death has you wondering, but I think your thinking about it too much.”

“You think so.”

“I know so.”

“You know I think I will take you up on that offer. Where do you wanna go?”

“Um, well I think Big Belly Burgers would still be open this late.”

“All right, let me get my coat.” Lois said.

Clark opened the door for Lois, sighed, and placed his derby back on his head as he followed right behind her.

---

The rich backdrop of Lexcorp’s penthouse office muffled the malevolence that echoed off the man who sat at the head of one of the world’s largest empires. He looked out at the Metropolis that his father’s company built and that he himself had expanded beyond its meager borders. Lex turned his head to the secretary that stood behind him and he crooked a smile.

“What is it Miss Tessmacher?”

“I got those files you wanted on your father’s business dealings.”

“Put them on my desk and leave.”

“Yes sir.”

Lex waited a moment until he heard the door shut then turned and sat down to look over the files. Names, that’s all he could see. Every one of them was of people he was not familiar with. Lex dialed a number and spent a few moments on the phone with one of his trusted private investigators. After he finished, he directed his attention to the paper on his desk and the figure that stood out to him as everything he couldn’t be.

“Well Clark. It looks our game begins anew.”

---

“Wow. This burger is good. Nice pick Smallville.”

“Thanks Lois.”

“So what article are you working on?”

“Well I’m working on the reactor story and the fire at Hobbs bay.”

“There was a fire…at Hobbs bay? My god was any one hurt?”

“Thankfully no one so far. Superman was on the scene and took care of it.”

“Wait, what were you doing near the Slums and Hobbs Bay?”

“I was out for a walk. Couldn’t sleep,” Clark shrugged.

“Dangerous part of town to take a walk.”

“I know, but Superman makes it safer.”

“When he’s around, but he can’t always be around, Smallville.”

“Yeah that’s true.”

“You should take some self-defense lessons. My sister’s boyfriend gives out lessons. I could get you signed up.”

“Oh. No. I couldn’t. I’m not comfortable with fighting.”

“Don’t be such a wuss. Jesus Clark. You could use some lessons,” Lois said.

“No thanks. But thanks for offering.”

Clark pulled out the tab for their meals and laid out the table then got up while grabbing his hat and jacket. “I’ll see you later, Lois.”

“Where you going?”

“I’m going home. It’s oh three thirty a.m. You should get to bed yourself.”

“I will in a little bit. See you later Clark.”

“Bye.”

---

Lois passed through the staff room rubbing her sleepy eyes and taking her seat at her cubicle. She looked at Clark who looked so fresh eyed and snorted her disgust.

“How do you do it? I barely got a four hours in.”

“Yoga.”

“You actually practice that stuff?”

“Yep.”

“Does it work?”

“Yep.”

“Could you teach me?”

“Uh well if you want to learn. I suppose I could.”

“Great. What time should I stop by your apartment?”

“Well I uh…four o’clock would be fine. I guess.”

“Good. My last interview appointment is over at three forty five so I will swing on by,” Lois said.

Perry walked out from the pressroom chomping down on his cigar with his eyes twitching. He looked at all the faces for two people and yelled their names loud enough to stop every one in their tracks.

“Kent! Lane! My office! Now!”

Clark and Lois shut the door behind them and sat down wondering what he wanted.

“Great Caesar’s ghost! Have either of you seen the morning edition of Star?”

“Um, no chief.”

“Lane?”

“Me neither,” Lois yawned.

“It seems there was a chemical spill which caused a fire in Hobbs bay. According to the Metropolis Star’s Stephan Byrne, the fire was not an accident. Now how come we are not on top of this story?”

“I just started this story last night, Chief. I was at the scene when Superman arrived.”

“Well Kent why haven’t you finished the article!”

“I was still investigating the cause Chief.”

Perry took a deep breath then let it out, “I don’t care how you do it, but I want the Planet to out scoop the Star! Now get going!”

“Right Chief.”

Clark followed Lois out of the office to the elevator and slipped his hat on. The elevators opened and they both stepped aboard and got on. Clark gazed at Lois for a moment and turned his back to the wall.

“Lois. I have been thinking.”

“What’s that Smallville?”

“Would you like to…what I mean to say is…Uh I just want to know…”

“Whatever you have to say can wait till we finish with this story Clark.”

“Right.”

---

Stephan Byrne adjusted his tie and looked at the mirror while smiling. His perfect clean-cut image sheltered something that hid beneath the surface. He ran a finger against the scar across his right breast and looked at his headline, which had earned him praise from his editor and a handsome raise. Something he never thought possible with how his life was going so dreadfully before. He turned to the busty woman who sat inside of his comfortable convertible with its top down and he felt a hunger that soon would be quenched.

“So where do you want to go Debra?” Stephan asked with a toothy grin.

“Anywhere where you and I can – be a lone.”

“I think I know just the spot,” Stephan said as he licked his lips.

---

Clark wrote down on his note pad everything the security guard had seen up until the fire while Lois took the testimony of the chemical disposal unit sent by Lexcorp. Clark slipped his pen back into his pocket as Lois walked over to him and she let out an exasperated huff.

“He didn’t know anything about what Byrne was talking about,” Lois said.

“Neither does the security guard. All he knew was a fire broke out and Superman put it out.”

“Isn’t it odd that Lexcorp has been around.”

“Yes, it is since these are not their chemicals.”

“You would think they would leave this to the disposal unit of which the chemicals did belong to.”

“Maybe they are just being helpful, Lois.”

“I don’t buy that for a moment, Smallville.”

“Ok, what is going through your head, Lois?”

“Nothing concrete. We best see what the police have and then investigate Byrne. His story seems to vanished as quickly as it appeared.”

---

Lex called in the person who knocked on his door and he spun around to look the man in the eyes. He smiled and sat the baseball in his hand down lightly on the desk.

“What’s up Byrne?”

“You!”

“Me?” Lex said. “What did I do?”

“You have ruined my reputation!”

“What reputation?”

Stephan tossed the desk aside like it was a paper weight and picked Lex up off the ground like he was a mere child. His body protruded jagged spikes and his skin became gray and hairless.

“You have just met your Doomsday!”

Lex went flying out the window of his office and fell several floors before being picked up by a red and blue blur. Lex looked at the spit curl and the big wide S then turned his head in disgust as he was safely lowered into the room. Superman stepped in front of Lex and eyed Stephan.

“Calm down, there is no reason to fight.”

“There is plenty of reason to fight!”

Stephan tackled Superman back out the window and they both crashed onto the sidewalk below. The man of tomorrow socked the creature off him and drove his shoulder into the man-monster’s chest. Stephan dug his feet into the ground and sent the metropolis marvel sailing over his shoulders onto the busy street. A passing car screeched to a halt before Superman and looked at the gray brute that charged towards him. The driver got out and ran for safety as Superman got to his feet.

“Stop this. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

Stephan laughed, “There is no turning back now. The change has already turned me away from moral sympathies. In a few moments…I will no longer remember my own name.”

Superman slammed the sole of his boot into the changed Stephan’s gut and kicked him upside the chin. Three more blows to the face made the monster reel. Superman struck him with a powerful and hard right cross that knocked Stephan across the street and into the Lexcorp tower. Stephan slid down and sagged to his knees before falling onto his face.

The basking of cheers didn’t change the intensity of the moment. Because Superman now trained his eyes on Lex Luthor wondering just what had changed Stephan Byrne into a monster and worst of all made him a threat that maybe too dangerous to live.