1.
“They refused my $25 million offer? That’s twice what it’s worth,” Arthur Bullock said into the phone. “Did you inquire about the property across the street? Good. Only $5 million? Buy it and build something that will block the ocean view. They won’t take $25 million then we’ll make them beg for a quarter of that.” Arthur hung up and began working on papers on his desk.
The spaceship appeared over New York City out of nowhere. Once it appeared, it blasted the Empire State Building. People on the street began screaming and running in different directions. Arthur, whose building was only a few blocks from Empire State, heard and felt what happened. Arthur went to the window, saw the alien ship then ran back to his desk and picked up the phone.
“Ms. Penny, hold my calls and appointments. I’m going to the pool,” he said.
“Yes, sir,” Ms. Penny answered.
Arthur hung up and went over to a window in the wall that looked like an aquarium. He opened a secret door in the wall, removed his suit and jumped into the water. He swam down the entire height of the building and when he emerged on the street, he was garbed in a red scaled suit with green pants that had a red stripe on the outside of each leg. Arthur then looked at the ship in the sky then lept up toward it.
“We have something going on in New York,” Agent Spider reported, looking at the monitors.
“What’s going on?” Superkitten asked quickly since her mom and best friend were still there.
“Some kind of alien ship,” Spider said.
“In New York?” Dmitri confirmed. “Keep monitoring the situation. Maybe Red Fish can handle it.”
“Red Fish?” Superkitten questioned.
“You may know him as Arthur Bullock,” Spider said.
“That jackass has superpowers? He once wanted to buy my entire block. He bribed someone at the water department to shut off everyone’s water. He was found out but that didn’t stop him. He just hired a demolition crew to demolish a building with people still living in it claiming it was an accident,” Superkitten revealed.
“Really?” Agent Spider asked.
“Oh, yeah,” Superkitten answered. “And his track record with minorities is deplorable. Charging higher rents as ‘security’ or outright denying housing. He would hire people to keep tabs on his property and routinely purchase dilapidated properties in poor neighborhoods, fix up the buildings, then charge exorbitant rent just to raise surrounding property values even if it meant his building stayed empty.”
“He’s just trying to live the American Dream,” America said.
“The American Dream includes being a dick to people who have less than you?” Superkitten asked. “You’re African American. I’d think you would have compassion for your fellow man.”
“I do. When they try and work as hard as I have. If they can’t pay the rent that Arthur Bullock asks then look for something cheaper or work harder,” America explained.
“A lot of these people are working as hard as they can--sometimes harder,” she took a step toward America.
“Sure. At dealing drugs. At grifting the system. At raping and killing little girls like you.”
“And he’s supposed to be representative of the American ideal?” she turned to Agent Spider.
“It actually makes sense when you think about it,” he said.
“It’s just a name chosen based on costume design. I’ve never said that I represent America,” America said. “I’m gonna step away now.”
“I can’t believe that there are still people like that,” Superkitten said.
“I’m guessing that the honeymoon is over?” Agent Spider asked, commenting on the romance that Superkitten and America found themselves in shortly after she arrived despite her being underage and half America’s age.
“We were just having fun,” Superkitten huffed, collapsing into a chair. “We both know what was going on and knew the consequences. Ugh,” she shuddered and made a face. “How’s Red Fish doing?”
Back in New York, metallic tentacles had come out of the ship to fend off Red Fish. It at least wasn’t shooting at the buildings anymore. As long as Red Fish was wet, his powers worked. Super strength, invulnerability, the ability to leap ⅓ of a mile, all made him one of the most powerful people in the world. If he didn’t have to remain wet, he could’ve ruled the world. Luckily, he was able to make money without having to use his powers.
He could feel himself drying up so he wanted to finish this quickly. He focused his attention on the tentacles. He grabbed a tentacle and began pulling, hoping to pull it out or drag the ship down. A sharp pain then erupted in his side.
“Leave us alone,” an older woman, holding some sort of glowing trident, hovering right next to Red Fish, said. “You can’t stop us. Many have tried.”
Red Fish felt dizzy--lack of blood? He saw the old woman with the glowing trident, his blood staining the tips. “Who…?”
“I am Rodham. Kon’s Army have traversed this universe conquering numerous worlds. This one is next,” Rodham cackled.
“Over...my dead body…” Red Fish said woozily before passing out.
“That can be arranged,” Rodham said, taking Red Fish with her aboard the ship.
“We need to head out,” Agent Spider said, getting out of the chair in the monitoring room. “I’ll get the ship going, you grab the others,” he told Superkitten.
Aboard the ship, Red Fish, still unconscious, was hooked up to some wires in some sort of capsule. Earth was the fifth planet Kon’s Army had visited. The first four were now uninhabitable wastelands.
Kon was a tall and gangly Daxote. Though not personally dangerous, Kon was a brilliant leader and was easily able to turn these three individuals into well-oiled killing machines. Rodham was an old school warrior from a planet of warrior women. Rodham chose to join Kon after her people chose to live a more peaceful existence. They will learn the error of their decision soon. Grunge was pure muscle and loyal like a dog. He was specifically bred on his home planet to be a killer like all males on his planet. He was then sold to Kon like all the males that aren’t kept for breeding.
The fourth member of the Army was newly acquired. Plucked from a dead alternate universe, he was faster than an argon ray, more powerful than Grunge, able to leap the United Federation of Planets building in a single bound. Standing behind Kon as Rodham and Grunge came in, the newest member was garbed in his symbolic blue uniform and flowing red cape. The red pentagonal S-shield on his chest seemed to radiate from the blue.
“He was easy to dispose of,” Rodham said. “They have other warriors.”
“We can easily take care of them. We have Grunge and Supercat,” Kon said and rubbed his mustache.
The spaceship appeared over New York City out of nowhere. Once it appeared, it blasted the Empire State Building. People on the street began screaming and running in different directions. Arthur, whose building was only a few blocks from Empire State, heard and felt what happened. Arthur went to the window, saw the alien ship then ran back to his desk and picked up the phone.
“Ms. Penny, hold my calls and appointments. I’m going to the pool,” he said.
“Yes, sir,” Ms. Penny answered.
Arthur hung up and went over to a window in the wall that looked like an aquarium. He opened a secret door in the wall, removed his suit and jumped into the water. He swam down the entire height of the building and when he emerged on the street, he was garbed in a red scaled suit with green pants that had a red stripe on the outside of each leg. Arthur then looked at the ship in the sky then lept up toward it.
“We have something going on in New York,” Agent Spider reported, looking at the monitors.
“What’s going on?” Superkitten asked quickly since her mom and best friend were still there.
“Some kind of alien ship,” Spider said.
“In New York?” Dmitri confirmed. “Keep monitoring the situation. Maybe Red Fish can handle it.”
“Red Fish?” Superkitten questioned.
“You may know him as Arthur Bullock,” Spider said.
“That jackass has superpowers? He once wanted to buy my entire block. He bribed someone at the water department to shut off everyone’s water. He was found out but that didn’t stop him. He just hired a demolition crew to demolish a building with people still living in it claiming it was an accident,” Superkitten revealed.
“Really?” Agent Spider asked.
“Oh, yeah,” Superkitten answered. “And his track record with minorities is deplorable. Charging higher rents as ‘security’ or outright denying housing. He would hire people to keep tabs on his property and routinely purchase dilapidated properties in poor neighborhoods, fix up the buildings, then charge exorbitant rent just to raise surrounding property values even if it meant his building stayed empty.”
“He’s just trying to live the American Dream,” America said.
“The American Dream includes being a dick to people who have less than you?” Superkitten asked. “You’re African American. I’d think you would have compassion for your fellow man.”
“I do. When they try and work as hard as I have. If they can’t pay the rent that Arthur Bullock asks then look for something cheaper or work harder,” America explained.
“A lot of these people are working as hard as they can--sometimes harder,” she took a step toward America.
“Sure. At dealing drugs. At grifting the system. At raping and killing little girls like you.”
“And he’s supposed to be representative of the American ideal?” she turned to Agent Spider.
“It actually makes sense when you think about it,” he said.
“It’s just a name chosen based on costume design. I’ve never said that I represent America,” America said. “I’m gonna step away now.”
“I can’t believe that there are still people like that,” Superkitten said.
“I’m guessing that the honeymoon is over?” Agent Spider asked, commenting on the romance that Superkitten and America found themselves in shortly after she arrived despite her being underage and half America’s age.
“We were just having fun,” Superkitten huffed, collapsing into a chair. “We both know what was going on and knew the consequences. Ugh,” she shuddered and made a face. “How’s Red Fish doing?”
Back in New York, metallic tentacles had come out of the ship to fend off Red Fish. It at least wasn’t shooting at the buildings anymore. As long as Red Fish was wet, his powers worked. Super strength, invulnerability, the ability to leap ⅓ of a mile, all made him one of the most powerful people in the world. If he didn’t have to remain wet, he could’ve ruled the world. Luckily, he was able to make money without having to use his powers.
He could feel himself drying up so he wanted to finish this quickly. He focused his attention on the tentacles. He grabbed a tentacle and began pulling, hoping to pull it out or drag the ship down. A sharp pain then erupted in his side.
“Leave us alone,” an older woman, holding some sort of glowing trident, hovering right next to Red Fish, said. “You can’t stop us. Many have tried.”
Red Fish felt dizzy--lack of blood? He saw the old woman with the glowing trident, his blood staining the tips. “Who…?”
“I am Rodham. Kon’s Army have traversed this universe conquering numerous worlds. This one is next,” Rodham cackled.
“Over...my dead body…” Red Fish said woozily before passing out.
“That can be arranged,” Rodham said, taking Red Fish with her aboard the ship.
“We need to head out,” Agent Spider said, getting out of the chair in the monitoring room. “I’ll get the ship going, you grab the others,” he told Superkitten.
Aboard the ship, Red Fish, still unconscious, was hooked up to some wires in some sort of capsule. Earth was the fifth planet Kon’s Army had visited. The first four were now uninhabitable wastelands.
Kon was a tall and gangly Daxote. Though not personally dangerous, Kon was a brilliant leader and was easily able to turn these three individuals into well-oiled killing machines. Rodham was an old school warrior from a planet of warrior women. Rodham chose to join Kon after her people chose to live a more peaceful existence. They will learn the error of their decision soon. Grunge was pure muscle and loyal like a dog. He was specifically bred on his home planet to be a killer like all males on his planet. He was then sold to Kon like all the males that aren’t kept for breeding.
The fourth member of the Army was newly acquired. Plucked from a dead alternate universe, he was faster than an argon ray, more powerful than Grunge, able to leap the United Federation of Planets building in a single bound. Standing behind Kon as Rodham and Grunge came in, the newest member was garbed in his symbolic blue uniform and flowing red cape. The red pentagonal S-shield on his chest seemed to radiate from the blue.
“He was easy to dispose of,” Rodham said. “They have other warriors.”
“We can easily take care of them. We have Grunge and Supercat,” Kon said and rubbed his mustache.
2.
On a distant and dying planet, Viktor and Tatiana were preparing to send their newborn child away. “He’ll be accepted there, on Earth, and be a god among men,” Viktor said, trying to reassure Tatiana, and himself, that sending him away to survive was a much better choice than keeping him there just to die. “You know it’s not fair to punish our son for the sins of his fathers.”
“We did nothing wrong,” Tatiana cried.
“And if there were time, we’d launch ourselves with him but there is not. We could barely complete this ship and it isn’t even assured that he will make it.”
The planet shook, one of the many tremors they had to live with over the last year, each day getting worse and worse. “Send him,” Tatiana sobbed. “Send him now.”
Viktor quickly sent off the ship with their child inside. Viktor and Tatiana held each other as they watched the ship leave the planet and fly across the black universe. Within a few days, the ship arrived on Earth, crashing into a field in Kansas.
“What in the world,” Eben, an older human asked when he saw the object fall out of the sky and crash into his field.
“Eben! What’s going on out here?” his wife, Sarah, ran out of their house.
“I don’t know but I’m taking the truck to find out.”
“I’m coming with you,” Sarah said.
They got in their old pickup truck and drove out to where Eben saw the crash. They found a smoldering crater and a small ship in it. “Some sort of contraption,” Eben carefully slid his way into the crater.
“Careful, Eben,” Sarah said.
“It’s some kind of rocketship or something. It looks like there’s something inside,” he carefully touched the window glass and it melted. He stumbled back a bit but got closer and saw what was inside. “There’s a kitten inside of this.”
“A what? A kitten?”
Eben carefully picked up the kitten and brought it out of the crater. “Who would do this to a poor, defenseless kitten?” he asked.
“Another country? Could it possibly be American?”
“There’s no identifiable writing on the ship. I would think if it was one of ours we’d be surrounded with guns pointed at us.”
“What do we do with him?” Sarah asked.
“We keep him,” Eben said matter-of-factly.
“What if he’s some sort of experiment?”
“Then the people who did this don’t deserve to have him back. Let’s get back to the house and we can figure out what to do with the ship later.”
They named the kitten Clark and raised him as their own. Being a cat in a human world was difficult but Clark prevailed. As he grew, Clark got stronger and developed a myriad of powers. It was clear that Clark was different from everyone. After high school, Clark went to college. One of his college professors became infected with radiation and became Nuclear Man. It was Clark’s first battle and how he showed the world what he could do. It’s also where he got the name Supercat.
Clark and his adopted parents designed a costume and Supercat officially made his debut. For ten years, Supercat took on everything from small-time crooks to genetically modified war machines like Hellstroke.
Then a parasite began crossing the universe. The red crystal froze everyone and everything and drained the life from them. Supercat tried to stop the red crystal after watching people panic and fellow heroes kill themselves. He failed. The crystal was unable to usurp his life but solidified him in the middle of space. Until Kon arrived and brought Supercat into this universe.
Now, Supercat and Grunge were on the streets of New York City bringing entire buildings down in one punch and killing anyone who crossed their paths. Rodham and Kon were enthusiastically watching the death and destruction from the ship.
The team arrived but stayed away from the fray. “We have to act quickly,” America said. “We need to split up--one team for the ship, another to the two on the street, and a third to save civilians.”
“I want the guy in blue,” Superkitten said.
“I can split between the other guy and helping civilians,” Geo-Whiz said.
“Okay. Smoke, help civilians. Everyone else, you’re with me and the ship,” America ordered. “Split up, gang.”
“We really need a team name,” Superkitten said as she ran off.
America and Agent Spider headed toward the ship. They were only a few yards away when Red Fish appeared from it. “Red Fish, you escaped,” Agent Spider exclaimed.
“I don’t think he escaped,” America said and barely dodged a punch from Red Fish. Agent Spider was able to web up his fist and eyes in an effort to slow him down. “He’s been brainwashed or something.”
“Well, how do we cure him?”
“My first instinct is to just hit him really hard,” America hit Red Fish sending him back a few feet.
“Alix would’ve loved to see that,” Agent Spider laughed. He shot more webbing at Red Fish, tying his wrists together. America grabbed Red Fish and pulled him down to the ground, slamming him into the street.
“Use your web to seal him in this hole,” America pointed. “Now, let’s deal with the ship and whoever else is up there.”
“I was hoping their fellow warrior would put up more of a fight,” Kon said, watching America and Agent Spider launching themselves at the ship. “The fish-man is down but not out. Rodham, take over for him.”
“With pleasure,” she said and left.
Once again, America and Agent Spider were near the ship when Rodham suddenly appeared. She used her trident to send America back down to the ground but not before sending him through a building first. Agent Spider tried to web her trident and pull it away but Rodham was stronger and was able to pull Agent Spider toward her. She grabbed Agent Spider and hit him numerous times before throwing to where the other two were dealing with Grunge and Supercat.
Agent Spider slammed into the pavement. He slowly pulled himself up and got a good look at the destruction caused by Grunge and Supercat. America pulled himself out of the ruined basement of the building Rodham had blasted him through. His suit was torn and he actually had a couple bruises and some blood on his face. “Wasn’t expecting that,” he growled.
From behind, something slammed into him. They flew through the air and a couple of walls. They hit the ground and slid along the road, tearing a narrow strip of rocks through the street. America got up, knocking whoever attacked him off of him. He quickly turned and saw Red Fish.
“Ugh,” America sighed. “Guess I should’ve punched you harder.” America did hit Red Fish harder and then harder, over and over again until he was finally down and unmoving.
Near Agent Spider, Geo-Whiz was trying to battle Grunge with rocks from damaged buildings and streets and from underground but nothing was working. Agent Spider motioned to keep Grunge distracted while he went over and then hit Grunge as hard as he could.
Grunge flew back nearly a block before landing hard on the street. America joined Agent Spider and Geo-Whiz. “This isn’t working,” he sighed. “They are too strong for us. Our power doesn’t even come close.”
“It’s time to take the gloves off then,” Agent Spider said. “I have a plan to stop these two and then we can help Superkitten with the guy in blue,” he explained.
Geo-Whiz spoke, “All right. Well, what’s the plan? We only have a few seconds before these two are on our butts."
“We did nothing wrong,” Tatiana cried.
“And if there were time, we’d launch ourselves with him but there is not. We could barely complete this ship and it isn’t even assured that he will make it.”
The planet shook, one of the many tremors they had to live with over the last year, each day getting worse and worse. “Send him,” Tatiana sobbed. “Send him now.”
Viktor quickly sent off the ship with their child inside. Viktor and Tatiana held each other as they watched the ship leave the planet and fly across the black universe. Within a few days, the ship arrived on Earth, crashing into a field in Kansas.
“What in the world,” Eben, an older human asked when he saw the object fall out of the sky and crash into his field.
“Eben! What’s going on out here?” his wife, Sarah, ran out of their house.
“I don’t know but I’m taking the truck to find out.”
“I’m coming with you,” Sarah said.
They got in their old pickup truck and drove out to where Eben saw the crash. They found a smoldering crater and a small ship in it. “Some sort of contraption,” Eben carefully slid his way into the crater.
“Careful, Eben,” Sarah said.
“It’s some kind of rocketship or something. It looks like there’s something inside,” he carefully touched the window glass and it melted. He stumbled back a bit but got closer and saw what was inside. “There’s a kitten inside of this.”
“A what? A kitten?”
Eben carefully picked up the kitten and brought it out of the crater. “Who would do this to a poor, defenseless kitten?” he asked.
“Another country? Could it possibly be American?”
“There’s no identifiable writing on the ship. I would think if it was one of ours we’d be surrounded with guns pointed at us.”
“What do we do with him?” Sarah asked.
“We keep him,” Eben said matter-of-factly.
“What if he’s some sort of experiment?”
“Then the people who did this don’t deserve to have him back. Let’s get back to the house and we can figure out what to do with the ship later.”
They named the kitten Clark and raised him as their own. Being a cat in a human world was difficult but Clark prevailed. As he grew, Clark got stronger and developed a myriad of powers. It was clear that Clark was different from everyone. After high school, Clark went to college. One of his college professors became infected with radiation and became Nuclear Man. It was Clark’s first battle and how he showed the world what he could do. It’s also where he got the name Supercat.
Clark and his adopted parents designed a costume and Supercat officially made his debut. For ten years, Supercat took on everything from small-time crooks to genetically modified war machines like Hellstroke.
Then a parasite began crossing the universe. The red crystal froze everyone and everything and drained the life from them. Supercat tried to stop the red crystal after watching people panic and fellow heroes kill themselves. He failed. The crystal was unable to usurp his life but solidified him in the middle of space. Until Kon arrived and brought Supercat into this universe.
Now, Supercat and Grunge were on the streets of New York City bringing entire buildings down in one punch and killing anyone who crossed their paths. Rodham and Kon were enthusiastically watching the death and destruction from the ship.
The team arrived but stayed away from the fray. “We have to act quickly,” America said. “We need to split up--one team for the ship, another to the two on the street, and a third to save civilians.”
“I want the guy in blue,” Superkitten said.
“I can split between the other guy and helping civilians,” Geo-Whiz said.
“Okay. Smoke, help civilians. Everyone else, you’re with me and the ship,” America ordered. “Split up, gang.”
“We really need a team name,” Superkitten said as she ran off.
America and Agent Spider headed toward the ship. They were only a few yards away when Red Fish appeared from it. “Red Fish, you escaped,” Agent Spider exclaimed.
“I don’t think he escaped,” America said and barely dodged a punch from Red Fish. Agent Spider was able to web up his fist and eyes in an effort to slow him down. “He’s been brainwashed or something.”
“Well, how do we cure him?”
“My first instinct is to just hit him really hard,” America hit Red Fish sending him back a few feet.
“Alix would’ve loved to see that,” Agent Spider laughed. He shot more webbing at Red Fish, tying his wrists together. America grabbed Red Fish and pulled him down to the ground, slamming him into the street.
“Use your web to seal him in this hole,” America pointed. “Now, let’s deal with the ship and whoever else is up there.”
“I was hoping their fellow warrior would put up more of a fight,” Kon said, watching America and Agent Spider launching themselves at the ship. “The fish-man is down but not out. Rodham, take over for him.”
“With pleasure,” she said and left.
Once again, America and Agent Spider were near the ship when Rodham suddenly appeared. She used her trident to send America back down to the ground but not before sending him through a building first. Agent Spider tried to web her trident and pull it away but Rodham was stronger and was able to pull Agent Spider toward her. She grabbed Agent Spider and hit him numerous times before throwing to where the other two were dealing with Grunge and Supercat.
Agent Spider slammed into the pavement. He slowly pulled himself up and got a good look at the destruction caused by Grunge and Supercat. America pulled himself out of the ruined basement of the building Rodham had blasted him through. His suit was torn and he actually had a couple bruises and some blood on his face. “Wasn’t expecting that,” he growled.
From behind, something slammed into him. They flew through the air and a couple of walls. They hit the ground and slid along the road, tearing a narrow strip of rocks through the street. America got up, knocking whoever attacked him off of him. He quickly turned and saw Red Fish.
“Ugh,” America sighed. “Guess I should’ve punched you harder.” America did hit Red Fish harder and then harder, over and over again until he was finally down and unmoving.
Near Agent Spider, Geo-Whiz was trying to battle Grunge with rocks from damaged buildings and streets and from underground but nothing was working. Agent Spider motioned to keep Grunge distracted while he went over and then hit Grunge as hard as he could.
Grunge flew back nearly a block before landing hard on the street. America joined Agent Spider and Geo-Whiz. “This isn’t working,” he sighed. “They are too strong for us. Our power doesn’t even come close.”
“It’s time to take the gloves off then,” Agent Spider said. “I have a plan to stop these two and then we can help Superkitten with the guy in blue,” he explained.
Geo-Whiz spoke, “All right. Well, what’s the plan? We only have a few seconds before these two are on our butts."
3.
Superkitten thought that the guy in blue would be stronger. She always went full force during training with America but she had to go beyond that with this guy. Something seemed different with him though.
“Why are you in such bright colors?” she asked. “What’s the ‘S’ stand for?” she looked at the red pentagonal shield on his chest.
He actually paused and looked down. “Supercat.”
“Huh. Coincidence. I go by Superkitten,” Superkitten told him. “Why the bright colors? Red, blue, and yellow are not the colors of a villain.”
“I...used to be a hero,” Supercat said.
“Then why are you doing this?” Superkitten gestured at all the destruction in New York City.
“Kon saved me and brought me here. I will serve him until the debt is paid.”
“You don’t have to though,” she continued. “You could probably crumple Kon up like a piece of paper. He doesn’t own you.”
“Enough!” he growled angrily. He suddenly appeared next to Superkitten using his super-speed and grabbed her throat and torso. He lifted her over his head and threw her down to the street. He then flew into her, feet first, send both them through the street and into the tunnels underneath the city.
Superkitten quickly got to her feet. “You…” she began and hit Supercat as hard as she could “are better than this,” she screamed. Supercat flew down the tunnel and landed on the rails of the subway. The third rail sparked and smoked as he touched it but he barely felt it.
He pulled the rail, still sparking, up and swung it at Superkitten who was running toward him. He hit her square in the cheek and sent her down to the ground. “Stay down and we won’t have to continue this.”
“We don’t have to continue it at all,” Superkitten pushed herself back to her feet. “You were a hero. Why can’t you fight Kon? Do you have amnesia or were you brainwashed?” she asked.
“Kon did what he had to do,” Supercat said, ominously. Supercat raised his fist and it came for Superkitten. She was able to dodge and get the upper-hand. She began hitting Supercat hard, fast, and repeatedly. Supercat fell down and she kept hitting. “Suh...Superkitten,” he struggled to say.
She stopped. “What?” she asked cautiously, watching Supercat for any possible malicious movements.
“What have I done?” he sat up.
“It wasn’t you,” she said and helped pull him up. “It was Kon and the other three.”
“Rodham and Grunge,” Supercat grabbed Superkitten and flew her to the surface. A decent percentage of the city had been destroyed either by the ship or by Grunge and Supercat. “They aren’t going to stop until every city in the world is a pile of rubble.”
“Then we need to stop them,” Superkitten said. “You go after Kon. I’m going to help my teammates with Rodham and Grunge.”
The plan had worked for awhile. Grunge had taken a decent beating from gigantic rocks made by Geo-Whiz and launched at him by Agent Spider but he kept coming. They had gotten Smoke back and she was using her smoke and her ability to change the transparency to cloud Rodham’s view as America attacked her but both were adapting so the team needed something new.
The battle had led Grunge to a relatively untouched neighborhood. Superkitten recognized it well. All the buildings were the same dark brick with iron fire escapes. She had walked by these buildings nearly every day of her life. Had bought stuff from the stores--and, on a couple of occasions, stolen from them. Grunge had already taken so much from the people of New York, she was going to make sure he would not take any more.
Superkitten began running toward Grunge and slammed into his back. She continued running and pushing him with her. He lost his balance and fell over, creating a pot hole in the street. Superkitten continued punching him, trying to make him stay down and knock him out. Her vision was blurry as she struck Grunge over and over. He kept trying to get up and was stay conscious. Superkitten hit harder. A sharp, crackling pain shot through her back. Pieces of her uniform fluttered off of her. She stopped hitting Grunge and fell to the street.
In the air, Rodham still had her trident pointed toward Superkitten. Smoke, tired from the constant changing of transparency, looked at Superkitten, barely moving, as Grunge began to get up. America, Agent Spider, and Geo-Whiz rushed over to keep Grunge from hurting Superkitten. Smoke thought back to an impromptu training session with Superkitten.
“So what can you do?” Superkitten asked.
Smoke shrugged.
“You can mist yourself through tight spaces and change transparency. There’s got to be more.”
Smoke shrugged again. “Dad...Dmitri doesn’t include me in many trainings. You’ll probably get in trouble if he finds out you’re doing this.”
“Can you condense yourself into a smaller object?”
“Yeah, probably,” Smoke answered.
“Turn yourself into a ball.”
“What?”
“Condense yourself into a ball and put yourself over my head. Cut off my air supply. Make me stop breathing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I’m going to come for you, make me stop breathing.” Superkitten stepped back a bit and then charged at Smoke. As Superkitten was only inches away, Smoke condensed her body and placed herself over Superkitten’s head. She could not get Smoke off of her and soon she began gasping but unable to draw any air. After a couple minutes, Superkitten fell to her knees. Smoke removed herself from Superkitten’s head. She coughed and gulped down air as she wiped tears away.
“Are you okay? You told me to make you stop breathing. I’m so sorry,” Smoke panicked.
“Don’t be,” Superkitten coughed. “Now we have a secret weapon.”
Smoke went over to Rodham, coming at her from behind. As she got closer, she condensed herself into a ball and quickly placed herself over Rodham’s head.
Rodham tried to get Smoke off of her, swinging her fists and trident. She flew around in circles and criss-crosses but Smoke held on. Rodham ran out of air quicker and soon was out and fell to the ground. Smoke stayed on for another minute or so until finally releasing her.
America, Agent Spider, and Geo-Whiz looked at Smoke. “When’d you learn to do that?” Geo-Whiz asked.
“Superkitten,” she replied.
“I wonder if that would work with Grunge,” Agent Spider said.
“I don’t think he even breathes,” America said. Grunge was still down, kept down by America who kept striking and keeping Grunge off-balance.
“I’m going to get Superkitten out of here,” Geo-Whiz said. “When I get her back to the ship, I’ll come back,” Geo-Whiz picked Superkitten up and began carrying her away from the fray.
“What are we going to do with Gorgeous George?” America asked Agent Spider. “He won’t stay down.”
“I wish one of us could fly,” Agent Spider said. “Just grab him and take him into space.”
“This might be a little easier,” Dmitri appeared from down the street carrying a couple of circular belt-like things. “Spider, slip this on his head. It will hopefully shut down brain activity and put it into a coma.”
“If he even has a brain,” America said.
Agent Spider took one of the belts and slipped it on Grunge. The belt closed around his skull and it looked like Grunge began shutting down bit by bit.
“Put this other one on her,” Dmitri handed America another belt. “And I have another for our friend in the ship.”
“Supercat is heading there now,” Agent Spider said.
“You need to get up there and help him,” Dmitri said.
“Is she okay?” asked a woman on the sidewalk as Geo-Whiz carried Superkitten away from the battle.
“It’ll hurt. Probably some burn marks but she’s breathing,” he answered.
“I’m glad to know that she’ll be okay,” the woman started to tear up and then a tear escaped. “I’m glad to know she’s doing okay.”
Geo-Whiz stopped. “Do you know her?”
“She...She’s my daughter,” the woman sobbed.
“Why are you in such bright colors?” she asked. “What’s the ‘S’ stand for?” she looked at the red pentagonal shield on his chest.
He actually paused and looked down. “Supercat.”
“Huh. Coincidence. I go by Superkitten,” Superkitten told him. “Why the bright colors? Red, blue, and yellow are not the colors of a villain.”
“I...used to be a hero,” Supercat said.
“Then why are you doing this?” Superkitten gestured at all the destruction in New York City.
“Kon saved me and brought me here. I will serve him until the debt is paid.”
“You don’t have to though,” she continued. “You could probably crumple Kon up like a piece of paper. He doesn’t own you.”
“Enough!” he growled angrily. He suddenly appeared next to Superkitten using his super-speed and grabbed her throat and torso. He lifted her over his head and threw her down to the street. He then flew into her, feet first, send both them through the street and into the tunnels underneath the city.
Superkitten quickly got to her feet. “You…” she began and hit Supercat as hard as she could “are better than this,” she screamed. Supercat flew down the tunnel and landed on the rails of the subway. The third rail sparked and smoked as he touched it but he barely felt it.
He pulled the rail, still sparking, up and swung it at Superkitten who was running toward him. He hit her square in the cheek and sent her down to the ground. “Stay down and we won’t have to continue this.”
“We don’t have to continue it at all,” Superkitten pushed herself back to her feet. “You were a hero. Why can’t you fight Kon? Do you have amnesia or were you brainwashed?” she asked.
“Kon did what he had to do,” Supercat said, ominously. Supercat raised his fist and it came for Superkitten. She was able to dodge and get the upper-hand. She began hitting Supercat hard, fast, and repeatedly. Supercat fell down and she kept hitting. “Suh...Superkitten,” he struggled to say.
She stopped. “What?” she asked cautiously, watching Supercat for any possible malicious movements.
“What have I done?” he sat up.
“It wasn’t you,” she said and helped pull him up. “It was Kon and the other three.”
“Rodham and Grunge,” Supercat grabbed Superkitten and flew her to the surface. A decent percentage of the city had been destroyed either by the ship or by Grunge and Supercat. “They aren’t going to stop until every city in the world is a pile of rubble.”
“Then we need to stop them,” Superkitten said. “You go after Kon. I’m going to help my teammates with Rodham and Grunge.”
The plan had worked for awhile. Grunge had taken a decent beating from gigantic rocks made by Geo-Whiz and launched at him by Agent Spider but he kept coming. They had gotten Smoke back and she was using her smoke and her ability to change the transparency to cloud Rodham’s view as America attacked her but both were adapting so the team needed something new.
The battle had led Grunge to a relatively untouched neighborhood. Superkitten recognized it well. All the buildings were the same dark brick with iron fire escapes. She had walked by these buildings nearly every day of her life. Had bought stuff from the stores--and, on a couple of occasions, stolen from them. Grunge had already taken so much from the people of New York, she was going to make sure he would not take any more.
Superkitten began running toward Grunge and slammed into his back. She continued running and pushing him with her. He lost his balance and fell over, creating a pot hole in the street. Superkitten continued punching him, trying to make him stay down and knock him out. Her vision was blurry as she struck Grunge over and over. He kept trying to get up and was stay conscious. Superkitten hit harder. A sharp, crackling pain shot through her back. Pieces of her uniform fluttered off of her. She stopped hitting Grunge and fell to the street.
In the air, Rodham still had her trident pointed toward Superkitten. Smoke, tired from the constant changing of transparency, looked at Superkitten, barely moving, as Grunge began to get up. America, Agent Spider, and Geo-Whiz rushed over to keep Grunge from hurting Superkitten. Smoke thought back to an impromptu training session with Superkitten.
“So what can you do?” Superkitten asked.
Smoke shrugged.
“You can mist yourself through tight spaces and change transparency. There’s got to be more.”
Smoke shrugged again. “Dad...Dmitri doesn’t include me in many trainings. You’ll probably get in trouble if he finds out you’re doing this.”
“Can you condense yourself into a smaller object?”
“Yeah, probably,” Smoke answered.
“Turn yourself into a ball.”
“What?”
“Condense yourself into a ball and put yourself over my head. Cut off my air supply. Make me stop breathing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I’m going to come for you, make me stop breathing.” Superkitten stepped back a bit and then charged at Smoke. As Superkitten was only inches away, Smoke condensed her body and placed herself over Superkitten’s head. She could not get Smoke off of her and soon she began gasping but unable to draw any air. After a couple minutes, Superkitten fell to her knees. Smoke removed herself from Superkitten’s head. She coughed and gulped down air as she wiped tears away.
“Are you okay? You told me to make you stop breathing. I’m so sorry,” Smoke panicked.
“Don’t be,” Superkitten coughed. “Now we have a secret weapon.”
Smoke went over to Rodham, coming at her from behind. As she got closer, she condensed herself into a ball and quickly placed herself over Rodham’s head.
Rodham tried to get Smoke off of her, swinging her fists and trident. She flew around in circles and criss-crosses but Smoke held on. Rodham ran out of air quicker and soon was out and fell to the ground. Smoke stayed on for another minute or so until finally releasing her.
America, Agent Spider, and Geo-Whiz looked at Smoke. “When’d you learn to do that?” Geo-Whiz asked.
“Superkitten,” she replied.
“I wonder if that would work with Grunge,” Agent Spider said.
“I don’t think he even breathes,” America said. Grunge was still down, kept down by America who kept striking and keeping Grunge off-balance.
“I’m going to get Superkitten out of here,” Geo-Whiz said. “When I get her back to the ship, I’ll come back,” Geo-Whiz picked Superkitten up and began carrying her away from the fray.
“What are we going to do with Gorgeous George?” America asked Agent Spider. “He won’t stay down.”
“I wish one of us could fly,” Agent Spider said. “Just grab him and take him into space.”
“This might be a little easier,” Dmitri appeared from down the street carrying a couple of circular belt-like things. “Spider, slip this on his head. It will hopefully shut down brain activity and put it into a coma.”
“If he even has a brain,” America said.
Agent Spider took one of the belts and slipped it on Grunge. The belt closed around his skull and it looked like Grunge began shutting down bit by bit.
“Put this other one on her,” Dmitri handed America another belt. “And I have another for our friend in the ship.”
“Supercat is heading there now,” Agent Spider said.
“You need to get up there and help him,” Dmitri said.
“Is she okay?” asked a woman on the sidewalk as Geo-Whiz carried Superkitten away from the battle.
“It’ll hurt. Probably some burn marks but she’s breathing,” he answered.
“I’m glad to know that she’ll be okay,” the woman started to tear up and then a tear escaped. “I’m glad to know she’s doing okay.”
Geo-Whiz stopped. “Do you know her?”
“She...She’s my daughter,” the woman sobbed.
4.
Supercat ripped open the bay doors to Kon’s ship. He walked in, preparing for anything. He figured that Kon was hiding or planning something big. From the shadows, a swarm of pink gremlins came out. The riot monsters, Supercat thought. He’s trying to distract me. These things are just putty come to life. Supercat shot and melted the monsters with his heat vision and continued into the ship. I don’t have time for this. He used his super hearing and x-ray vision to find Kon. There. In his mindscape.
The mindscape was a place Kon went to relax and think. It was more dangerous for him to be in there because what he thought could manifest itself into reality. He can be able to see the outcome of a plan before he implements it and adjust accordingly, he can distract you with random people or things, he can distort and reshape reality to fit what he or you want. He spent an entire week in the mindscape before they attacked the last planet. He underestimated Earth. He didn’t plan like he normally did. He definitely didn’t take into account losing Rodham, Grunge, and Supercat.
More riot monsters appeared which Supercat easily took care of but then from the shadows, a larger riot monster, almost as tall as him. The riot monster was able to get a couple punches in but no more. It was like hitting a giant pencil eraser. A large blast of heat vision took care of this riot monster just as easily as the smaller ones.
“Enough of this, Kon,” Supercat said. “How about I just start tearing the ship apart piece by piece?” Supercat smashed his fist into a wall and began pulling out wires and other things from the hole.
“Stop,” Kon said but he wasn’t there. “I am one of the smartest entities in the known universe. I can bend and shape reality while I’m in here. I can bring everyone back for you. Lois, your parents, whoever you desire.”
“It wouldn’t be the same and you can’t buy me off, Kon. I’m not going to let you continue doing what you do,” Supercat continued, walking slowly to the mindscape.
“Are you sure?” from around the corner of the mindscape, Lois Purry appeared.
“Lois…” he stopped suddenly. She looked exactly as he remembered from twenty years ago. She was a reporter for the Daily Cat which is how they met. She was the only one, besides his parents, who knew both his identities. They were engaged to be married before the crystal.
“It’s been a long time,” Lois said.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” Supercat began. “I tried to stop the crystal. I tried so hard.”
“It’s okay,” she touched his cheek. “The crystal beat everyone. But you’re here now. We’re here now.” Lois leaned up to kiss Supercat.
Their lips were about to touch when Supercat pulled away. “None of this is real. You’re made up. By Kon,” he said.
“Just forget about that right now. This is as real as you want to make it. Clark…” she whispered his name. His real name.
He shook his head. “No, Lois. No. I wish it were real but it isn’t. It can’t be. Sorry, Lois. I love you,” Supercat pushed his fist through her chest and out her back. As she died, she disappeared. Supercat turned and faced Kon in the mindscape.
“No…” Kon panicked. “Wait.”
Supercat used his heat vision to sever the cords connected to Kon’s head. Kon’s eyes went wide and then he slumped in the chair.
“What happened?” Agent Spider asked as he and America finally arrived and saw Kon defeated.
“Being suddenly removed from the mindscape short-circuited his brain. He’s essentially in a coma.”
“So he’s stopped?” Spider confirmed.
“Yep. What about Grunge and Rodham?”
“Stopped and neutralized,” America then handed Supercat the circular head belt. “Here, this is what we used on Grunge and Rodham to shut down brain activity.”
Supercat slipped the belt on Kon’s head. “Will you guys take care of them?”
“I don’t know about ‘care’ but we’ll make sure they don’t hurt anyone else,” America said.
“What about the other two from your team? The other guy and the girl?”
“They’re fine. They’re on the ground. She really took a beating but she’ll be fine,” Agent Spider said.
Superkitten opened her eyes and her vision slowly regained focus. She saw three people hovering over her, staring at her. “She’s awake,” one of the females said.
“Mom?” Superkitten groaned. “Traci? What are you doing here?” Then she remembered. She sat up. “I’m glad to see you.”
“So this is what you are doing? A super soldier for the government?”
“I had to do something. I nearly killed somebody. I would’ve been in trouble, maybe even taken away. And now I get to train and control my powers and help people. Like Dad used to.”
“You shouldn’t have just left--disappeared like you did. But I am so glad that you are safe,” she hugged Superkitten tightly.
“I’ve missed you, too,” Traci said. “Do they not let you out of your cell to visit your best friend?”
“It’s only been a few months. I was going to visit sooner or later,” Superkitten said. “We’ve been busy.”
Superkitten stood up, she was still a little dizzy and her back was radiating with pain. “You be careful out there,” Ms. Kincaid hugged Superkitten again, tighter and longer this time.
“My birthday is coming up. I expect to see you,” Traci said.
Superkitten and Geo-Whiz stepped out into the remains of the neighborhood. They saw Supercat, Agent Spider, and America floating back down to earth with Kon in Supercat’s arms. “We stopped them?” Superkitten sounded skeptical. “I mean, of course we stopped them.”
“Thankfully you were able to knock some sense into Supercat,” America said.
“That reminds me, I need to talk to you about that,” Supercat told Superkitten. “Please, come with me.”
Superkitten felt like a little girl again. She could’ve sworn she heard a classroom say ‘ooh’ as she and Supercat stepped away from the group. “I’m sorry I hit you, I…”
“Don’t apologize,” Supercat interrupted. “You did what you had to do. You didn’t even know if that would work. I’m glad this Earth is as protected as my Earth was. I know it’s all just coincidence but I am so proud my name is continuing. Did you come up with it?”
“Yeah. Super for obvious reasons and kitten because it was a nickname my Dad gave me.”
“Your Dad must be very proud of you.”
“He was shot and killed a few years ago. He was a police officer.”
“Doesn’t mean he’s not proud,” Supercat smiled at her, placing his hand on her shoulder.
“What are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know. I’m a stranger in a strange land. I think I’ll just lay low for a bit. Help protect people secretly. You may see me around.”
“Well, if you ever need help, you know who to come to,” Superkitten waved as Supercat lifted off into the air.
“I’ll see you around, Superkitten.”
“Alix.”
Supercat paused. “Clark.”
Superkitten joined Geo-Whiz, Agent Spider, and America again. “He’s not staying with us?” Spider asked.
“No. We’ll probably see him again though. I’m hungry. Can we stop and get something to eat?” Superkitten asked.
“You need to get checked out,” Dmitri said, walking toward the group. “We need to make sure those burns will heal and that your back is okay.”
“I think we can run through a drive-thru somewhere,” Superkitten said. “We did just save the world.”
“I guess we can make a quick stop,” Dmitri said.
“Great. Also, when can I learn to fly the plane? If I were a real teenager I’d know how to drive by now,” Superkitten asked as the team headed back to the plane. ▩
The mindscape was a place Kon went to relax and think. It was more dangerous for him to be in there because what he thought could manifest itself into reality. He can be able to see the outcome of a plan before he implements it and adjust accordingly, he can distract you with random people or things, he can distort and reshape reality to fit what he or you want. He spent an entire week in the mindscape before they attacked the last planet. He underestimated Earth. He didn’t plan like he normally did. He definitely didn’t take into account losing Rodham, Grunge, and Supercat.
More riot monsters appeared which Supercat easily took care of but then from the shadows, a larger riot monster, almost as tall as him. The riot monster was able to get a couple punches in but no more. It was like hitting a giant pencil eraser. A large blast of heat vision took care of this riot monster just as easily as the smaller ones.
“Enough of this, Kon,” Supercat said. “How about I just start tearing the ship apart piece by piece?” Supercat smashed his fist into a wall and began pulling out wires and other things from the hole.
“Stop,” Kon said but he wasn’t there. “I am one of the smartest entities in the known universe. I can bend and shape reality while I’m in here. I can bring everyone back for you. Lois, your parents, whoever you desire.”
“It wouldn’t be the same and you can’t buy me off, Kon. I’m not going to let you continue doing what you do,” Supercat continued, walking slowly to the mindscape.
“Are you sure?” from around the corner of the mindscape, Lois Purry appeared.
“Lois…” he stopped suddenly. She looked exactly as he remembered from twenty years ago. She was a reporter for the Daily Cat which is how they met. She was the only one, besides his parents, who knew both his identities. They were engaged to be married before the crystal.
“It’s been a long time,” Lois said.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” Supercat began. “I tried to stop the crystal. I tried so hard.”
“It’s okay,” she touched his cheek. “The crystal beat everyone. But you’re here now. We’re here now.” Lois leaned up to kiss Supercat.
Their lips were about to touch when Supercat pulled away. “None of this is real. You’re made up. By Kon,” he said.
“Just forget about that right now. This is as real as you want to make it. Clark…” she whispered his name. His real name.
He shook his head. “No, Lois. No. I wish it were real but it isn’t. It can’t be. Sorry, Lois. I love you,” Supercat pushed his fist through her chest and out her back. As she died, she disappeared. Supercat turned and faced Kon in the mindscape.
“No…” Kon panicked. “Wait.”
Supercat used his heat vision to sever the cords connected to Kon’s head. Kon’s eyes went wide and then he slumped in the chair.
“What happened?” Agent Spider asked as he and America finally arrived and saw Kon defeated.
“Being suddenly removed from the mindscape short-circuited his brain. He’s essentially in a coma.”
“So he’s stopped?” Spider confirmed.
“Yep. What about Grunge and Rodham?”
“Stopped and neutralized,” America then handed Supercat the circular head belt. “Here, this is what we used on Grunge and Rodham to shut down brain activity.”
Supercat slipped the belt on Kon’s head. “Will you guys take care of them?”
“I don’t know about ‘care’ but we’ll make sure they don’t hurt anyone else,” America said.
“What about the other two from your team? The other guy and the girl?”
“They’re fine. They’re on the ground. She really took a beating but she’ll be fine,” Agent Spider said.
Superkitten opened her eyes and her vision slowly regained focus. She saw three people hovering over her, staring at her. “She’s awake,” one of the females said.
“Mom?” Superkitten groaned. “Traci? What are you doing here?” Then she remembered. She sat up. “I’m glad to see you.”
“So this is what you are doing? A super soldier for the government?”
“I had to do something. I nearly killed somebody. I would’ve been in trouble, maybe even taken away. And now I get to train and control my powers and help people. Like Dad used to.”
“You shouldn’t have just left--disappeared like you did. But I am so glad that you are safe,” she hugged Superkitten tightly.
“I’ve missed you, too,” Traci said. “Do they not let you out of your cell to visit your best friend?”
“It’s only been a few months. I was going to visit sooner or later,” Superkitten said. “We’ve been busy.”
Superkitten stood up, she was still a little dizzy and her back was radiating with pain. “You be careful out there,” Ms. Kincaid hugged Superkitten again, tighter and longer this time.
“My birthday is coming up. I expect to see you,” Traci said.
Superkitten and Geo-Whiz stepped out into the remains of the neighborhood. They saw Supercat, Agent Spider, and America floating back down to earth with Kon in Supercat’s arms. “We stopped them?” Superkitten sounded skeptical. “I mean, of course we stopped them.”
“Thankfully you were able to knock some sense into Supercat,” America said.
“That reminds me, I need to talk to you about that,” Supercat told Superkitten. “Please, come with me.”
Superkitten felt like a little girl again. She could’ve sworn she heard a classroom say ‘ooh’ as she and Supercat stepped away from the group. “I’m sorry I hit you, I…”
“Don’t apologize,” Supercat interrupted. “You did what you had to do. You didn’t even know if that would work. I’m glad this Earth is as protected as my Earth was. I know it’s all just coincidence but I am so proud my name is continuing. Did you come up with it?”
“Yeah. Super for obvious reasons and kitten because it was a nickname my Dad gave me.”
“Your Dad must be very proud of you.”
“He was shot and killed a few years ago. He was a police officer.”
“Doesn’t mean he’s not proud,” Supercat smiled at her, placing his hand on her shoulder.
“What are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know. I’m a stranger in a strange land. I think I’ll just lay low for a bit. Help protect people secretly. You may see me around.”
“Well, if you ever need help, you know who to come to,” Superkitten waved as Supercat lifted off into the air.
“I’ll see you around, Superkitten.”
“Alix.”
Supercat paused. “Clark.”
Superkitten joined Geo-Whiz, Agent Spider, and America again. “He’s not staying with us?” Spider asked.
“No. We’ll probably see him again though. I’m hungry. Can we stop and get something to eat?” Superkitten asked.
“You need to get checked out,” Dmitri said, walking toward the group. “We need to make sure those burns will heal and that your back is okay.”
“I think we can run through a drive-thru somewhere,” Superkitten said. “We did just save the world.”
“I guess we can make a quick stop,” Dmitri said.
“Great. Also, when can I learn to fly the plane? If I were a real teenager I’d know how to drive by now,” Superkitten asked as the team headed back to the plane. ▩
By Brian Hall
Copyright ©2017-2018. Tauy Creek.
Originally published in Supercomics #6-9
Supercat inspired by characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
