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CHAPTER SIX - DAVID
🕑 Added 2024-12-08 10:38:10 +0000 UTCDavid St. John hovered above the city, silent as he surveyed the ruins. His power shifted within him, cycling through possibilities: flight, enhanced vision, a field to detect movement beneath the rubble. But none of his abilities could explain what he had just witnessed. Below him, Alexandria stood atop a fractured skyscraper, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the man who had done the unthinkable. Legend descended next to her, his face tight with concern, his body glowing faintly from residual energy.
Across the ruins of Brockton Bay, the stunned silence was broken only by the distant cries of the injured and the groaning of collapsing structures. No one spoke of what they had just seen; the enormity of it left words inadequate. Capes stood frozen, some clutching weapons they no longer needed, others staring blankly at the place where Leviathan had fallen. For years, the Endbringers had been a constant, unyielding threat—forces of nature more than enemies. They were unbeatable, eternal. Or so everyone had believed.
The realisation of Leviathan's death rippled through the survivors, a mix of awe, disbelief, and a gnawing fear of what this meant. The unspoken rule of the Endbringers—the idea that they could not be defeated—was shattered, and with it came questions that no one was ready to answer.
“Where is he now?” Eidolon’s voice was calm, but there was a weight to it that demanded an answer.
Alexandria gestured toward the shoreline. “Helping. He’s been pulling survivors out of the wreckage since the moment Leviathan fell.”
Legend frowned. “We should talk to him. We need to know who he is, where he came from, and…how he did it.”
“Agreed,” Eidolon said simply. Without another word, the Triumvirate moved as one, descending toward the man who had shifted the balance of power in their world.
. . . . .
Superman stood in the shallow water near the shattered remnants of the boardwalk, lifting a massive piece of debris as though it weighed nothing. Beneath it, a family clung to each other, coughing and shivering. The faint lines of exhaustion etched into his face dissolved into an expression of warmth, the soft smile seemingly almost out of place amidst the devastation.
“You’re safe now,” he said, his voice reassuring. “Get to higher ground. There’s help waiting there.”
The family nodded, too awestruck to speak, and stumbled toward the dry land. As Superman turned back to the rubble, his bright red cape caught in the wind, the Triumvirate landed behind him.
“Superman,” Alexandria called, her tone sharp but not hostile.
He turned to face them, his blue and red uniform looking battered but still holding up in most areas—a subtle reminder that for all that he was a newcomer, Superman was clearly not a fresh face. He had the resources, the experience, and the resolve of someone who had been fighting for far longer than his appearance might suggest.
It was a troubling thought.
How had Cauldron not heard of him until now?
They were supposed to have the eyes and ears on every cape, tracking powers, monitoring threats, and identifying potential game-changers. They were supposed to know about anyone who could alter the balance of power. Yet, somehow, this man had remained a mystery until now—someone whose abilities had gone unnoticed or underestimated. For all of Cauldron’s resources, their expertise, their deep network within the cape community, how had they missed someone who seemed to possess a level of control and power far beyond what most had?
Maybe they hadn’t missed him at all. Maybe he’d been kept out of their radar intentionally, a deliberate blind spot, because if they’d known, they would’ve made sure to have control. Either way, the implications were frightening.
Superman’s piercing gaze swept over the three of them, and for a moment, there was only silence. The weight of their presence—three of the most powerful capes in existence—was palpable, but if Superman felt intimidated, he didn’t show it.
“I take it you’re the ones in charge?” he said, his voice calm, even friendly.
Alexandria stepped forward. “We’re part of the Triumvirate. I’m Alexandria. This is Legend and Eidolon.”
Superman nodded. “I’ve heard about you. You’ve done good work.”
Eidolon’s expression didn’t change. “You killed Leviathan.”
“Yes,” Superman said simply. “It needed to be done.”
“Do you have any idea what that means?” Legend’s voice was laced with disbelief. “Leviathan wasn’t just a threat—he was an Endbringer. They don’t die. They’re…”
“Unstoppable?” Superman finished for him. He shook his head. “Not anymore.”
Alexandria’s gaze was intense. “Who are you? Where did you come from? We’ve never heard of you, and no one with your power just appears out of nowhere.”
Superman met her stare without flinching. “I’m Superman. I’m here to help.”
Eidolon stepped forward, his presence almost oppressive. “That’s not an answer. You took down an Endbringer. That’s more than any of us have ever done. We need to understand how.”
Superman’s expression softened. “I’m not here to compete with you. I’m here because people needed help.” He gestured to the city around them. “And they still do. If you have questions, I’ll answer them. But right now, there are lives to save.”
Legend exchanged a glance with Alexandria, who gave a slight nod. “Let us help,” Legend said. “We’ll work together. But after this is over, we need to talk.”
Superman nodded. “Fair enough.”
Without another word, he turned back to the rubble and began lifting another massive slab of concrete. For a moment, the Triumvirate watched him, a mix of confusion and unease in their expressions. Then they exchanged glances before moving to join him, their questions temporarily set aside in the face of the task before them.
. . . . .
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the wreckage of Brockton Bay, the day’s work came to an end. Rescue teams and capes continued their efforts into the night, but for the Triumvirate and Superman, there was a sense that they had done all they could for now. The ruined city had been stabilized, survivors had been rescued, and the fires that raged in the wake of Leviathan’s attack were finally under control.
The Triumvirate regrouped near a temporary command center set up by the Protectorate. Superman stood apart from them, gazing out at the ocean as the waves lapped against the shore. His cape, torn and tattered, hung limply behind him, and the once-bright blue and red of his suit was dulled with soot and grime. There was a quiet strength about him, even now—a steadiness that seemed to radiate from his very being.
Alexandria approached him first. “You don’t seem very tired,” she said. “After everything you’ve done today, most capes would be running on fumes.”
“My exhaustion is more mental than physical.” Superman paused for a moment, glancing at her. “There’s a lot to do here, but that's what I’m here for. It’s what I do.”
“And what is that, exactly?” Legend asked, his tone cautious. He hovered nearby, having followed in Alexandria’s wake along with Eidolon. “Saving lives? Fighting monsters?”
Superman looked up at Legend, his expression firm but kind. “Yes. All of that. Wherever I’m needed, I do what I can.”
“But you aren't here for that,” he added.
“We need to talk,”
Superman turned to face Alexandria, his expression calm. “I figured this was coming.”
Legend gestured toward a nearby tent, one of the few structures still standing amidst the devastation. “It’s quieter in there. We can speak privately.”
Superman nodded and followed them inside. The space was sparse—just a folding table and a few chairs surrounded by maps and reports detailing the aftermath of Leviathan’s attack. The four of them took their seats, and for a moment, the only sound was the faint rustle of the wind against the tent.
Legend broke the silence. “Let’s start with the basics. Who are you, really? And where did you come from?”
Superman leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “As I’ve told everyone, my name is Superman. As for where I come from… it’s complicated.” He paused, searching for the right words. “I’m not from this world. I come from a place far away—a different reality, you could say.”
“A different reality?” Eidolon repeated, his tone skeptical. “That’s a convenient explanation.”
“It’s the truth,” Superman said evenly. “Where I come from, I was sent as an infant to Earth—a version of Earth—to escape the destruction of my home planet, Krypton. I was raised by human parents who taught me to use my abilities to help others. That’s what I’ve dedicated my life to.”
Alexandria folded her arms. “And how did you end up here?”
“I don’t know,” Superman admitted. “One moment, I was in my world, and the next, I was here. I’ve been trying to piece it together, but I haven’t found any answers yet. All I know is that this world needed help, and I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”
Legend leaned back in his chair. “Your powers—are they natural? Or are they the result of something else? A trigger event?”
Superman shook his head. “They’re natural. Kryptonians like me gain incredible abilities under a yellow sun. Flight, strength, speed, heat vision… it’s all part of who I am. I’ve trained myself to use them responsibly, to do the most good I can.”
Eidolon studied him carefully, his expression inscrutable behind his mask. “You killed Leviathan. That’s something no one’s been able to do. How?”
Superman’s expression grew somber. “I didn’t want to kill it. But it was clear that nothing less would stop it. I used my heat vision to weaken it, and when the moment came, I struck with everything I had. It was the only way to protect the people here.”
“But how?”
He glanced out the tent, watching as a young woman in a relatively pristine costume guided an elderly couple toward an aid station. A man in a firefighter’s uniform, his helmet missing, hoisted a child onto his shoulders, earning a tired but genuine laugh. Even in the face of so much loss, people were persevering.
He turned back to the Triumvirate, his voice quiet. “The specifics don’t matter. What matters is that I did what I had to.”
Alexandria narrowed her eyes. “It does matter. You’ve shifted the balance of power in this world. You killed an Endbringer—something no one else has been able to do. That changes everything.”
“Maybe it does. But isn’t that a good thing? Isn’t that what you’ve all been fighting for?”
Legend followed his gaze outside. “It’s not that simple,” he said. “The Endbringers are more than just threats. They’re constants. We’ve built entire systems around managing their attacks, mitigating damage, saving as many lives as we can. If you’ve truly ended one of them… that changes the rules. And we don’t know what the consequences will be.”
Superman frowned, his brow furrowing. “You’d rather they stay alive?”
“No,” Alexandria cut in, her voice sharp. “But understanding the implications is important. The Endbringers didn’t just appear for no reason. If one can die, what does that mean for the others? For the world?”
Superman’s jaw tightened, though whether it was out of anger at the line of questions or not remained to be seen. “I don’t have all the answers. But I couldn’t stand by and let that thing destroy this place. Not when I could stop it.”
Eidolon hesitated, exchanging a glance with Legend. “You speak with conviction. But this world isn’t forgiving. Good intentions only go so far. Actions matter more than words.”
Superman inclined his head. “Then judge me by my actions. Today, I stopped Leviathan. Tomorrow, I’ll be here to help rebuild. And the day after that, and the day after that, as long as I’m needed.”
Alexandria’s gaze softened, though her voice retained its edge. “Time will tell if you’re as genuine as you seem. But for now, we’ll hold you to your word.”
Superman stood, his height casting a long shadow across the tent. “You won’t be disappointed. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s still work to do.”
He walked toward the tent’s opening, pausing just at the threshold. His cape swayed in the breeze as he glanced back at the Triumvirate, his expression unwavering. “Thank you—for listening, and for letting me help. I’ll see you out there.”
With that, he stepped outside, back into the night, his presence like a beacon amidst the darkness. The Triumvirate sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the day—and of the man they had just met—settling over them.
“Well,” Legend said finally, his tone thoughtful, “if nothing else, he’s not like anyone we’ve ever encountered before.”
“That much is certain,” Alexandria replied, her gaze lingering on the tent’s entrance. “Let’s just hope he is indeed telling the truth.”
Eidolon stood, a weary sigh on his lips. "Let's get out of here. There's still a lot to do."
