Harry, Kara, Kay, and Thara beamed back into the Fortress of Solitude straight away. It was a little piece of Krypton which eased Thara into the transition to Earth. Once they got settled in, Harry opened the portal and caused the entire group to port inside of the Horizon basement. They took the elevator and made their way upstairs.
"Wow!" Thara exclaimed. "This is like looking closely at a more primitive version of Krypton. Not that it's a bad thing, just something different. There's some potential which can go either way."
"Potential, yeah," Kay agreed when feverishly nodding her head. "Admittedly, it's a bit of a culture shock, going from Krypton to Earth, but you'll get used to it and realize that the real challenge is adapting."
"I should show you some of the sights once our problem is cleared up," Harry said. "Business first."
Kara pulled her way from her phone. Thara noticed the far off look in the eyes of her friend.
"Problem?"
"My roommate," Kara said. "Siobahn. She's been having headaches on and off lately, and they're interfering with her sleep schedule. I think they're a lot worse than she's letting on, but she just won't admit it, at all."
"Stubborn to a fault," Thara commented with a shadow of a smile. "Reminds me of someone."
Kara playfully elbowed Thara. Harry cleared his throat as the group came out of the elevator to meet the two sisters. Lena and Tess waited for them when they exited.
"This is Thara Ak-Var," Harry said. "Thara, this is Lena Luthor, and her younger sister, Tess."
Lena reached over and shook Thara's hand. As per all Kryptonians, she had a very strong grip. However, Lena could match her with a firm handshake when she needed to.
"Pleasure to meet you," Lena said.
"Likewise," Thara said. "How are you doing Tess?"
"Good," Tess responded by shaking Thara's hand. "The device is ready. We just finished making it more portable and tailoring it for your unique situation at Argo City."
"Let's go," Harry said. "I'm sure any modifications they made, they are top of the line."
"Oh, I know if you trust them," Thara said. "But, I'd like to see a demonstration if you don't mind."
Lena did not mind. In fact, Lena had a simulation program already and able to go. The four Kryptonians and the two Luthors crossed the room. Lena offered them some seats where they sat down.
"The Solar Siphoner. It was meant to siphon radiation particles away, although on the scale you're looking for, I had to increase the power input. We should be able to make the power portable, but I'm finishing running the final test. It should be ready for the afternoon, so you can take it back to Argo City."
"This is great," Thara said. "The radiation from Krypton's core is interfering with the shields. We need to keep those shields up or if it doesn't, there's a catastrophe."
"Do you have alternative plans for evacuation?" Harry asked.
"We do, but it's a last ditch effort," Thara said. "I'll run it by Alura. However, if we can get the particles siphoned away, we don't need that fallback plan."
"Great," Harry said. "But, it doesn't hurt to have it."
Lena nodded in agreement. "No, it doesn't. And Kay, if you could give me a hand to make sure the device will not cause a backfire and amplify the Kryptonite to lethal levels."
"The final test," Tess remarked. "And also the most important. This might hold us back so…"
"Do it right," Thara said. "Harry did promise to show me the sights."
Harry confirmed he did. Kay would be sticking around the lab and helping Lena and Tess with a few last minute tests. Thara and Kara would come with him, with Harry showing Thara around Metropolis. Thara looked eager and Harry was eager to make sure her time on Earth was enjoyable. Just because Thara was here to pick up an important device, did not mean she should not have some enjoyment.
"Lead the way," Thara said with a kiss.
"Let me know if anything goes wrong," Harry told the trio of women sticking behind. "Or if everything goes right."
Lena just smiled and kissed Harry goodbye. "We'll let you know that, and anything in between."
X-X-X
Thara wished she had a few more sets of eyes to really soak in what was happening in Metropolis. She liked the retro architecture of the city, for lack of a better term.
"Hey!"
Harry and Kara turned around and saw Lois standing there.
"Chloe mentioned you got back from your little trip, and you had quite an adventure," Lois remarked to him.
Harry laughed and greeted the lovely and feisty brunette.
"That's one way to put it," Harry said. "This is Thara Ak-var. Thara, this is another one of my lovers, Lois Lane."
"Oh, another Kryptonian," Lois said. "There sure seem to be a lot of you hanging around, you know considering…."
Lois trailed off, having stopped short of putting her foot in her mouth. Thara leaned over and pressed the other woman on the top of her hand.
"I understand, we're survivors," Thara said. "Although, we've lost a lot more than we've gained. But the past doesn't matter, the future is what matters here."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Lois said. "So lunch?"
"Ooh, my first exposure to Earth food?" Thara asked eagerly. "I can't wait."
Kara just smiled, she remembered the first time she sampled fast food. It was okay to have every now and then, but it was an acquired taste. The quartet ordered lunch, and sat down next to each other.
"Chloe's not with you today?" Harry asked.
"She's chasing down a lead," Lois said. "Intergang's back and they're being funded. They've been trying to keep on the downlow, but there are a lot of thefts which have their fingerprints all over them."
Harry hummed very slightly and looked thoughtful. Intergang, yes, that could be a problem, a big, big problem in fact. He kept his ears out and listening.
"So, Chloe's trying to figure out who is fufnding them?" Kara asked.
"That's the plan," Lois said. 'We got our suspects, but no reporter worth their salt is going to make accusations without…"
Thara almost thumped onto the table. Thankfully, Harry caught her and caused her to sit up straight.
"That's your first taste of powers underneath the yellow sun," Harry said. "Close your eyes, and focus."
"Rao, that was painful," Thara said while breathing in and out. "What is it?"
Harry's X-Ray vision spotted an armored van pulling off in the distance and a group of armored goons exiting said van. He frowned deeply and turned to Kara who saw the same thing. Both Kryptonian cousins had the same idea.
"Trouble."
X-X-X
The armored Intergang goons walked out with a very sizeable create of items. The tallest and most well built of the goons started to wave them forward.
"That idiot tripped an alarm. We've got about three seconds before…."
Two blurs came in. Superman and Superwoman dropped down to the ground.
"Those don't belong to you," Superman said.
"Waste them!"
Well, Harry saw this one coming. Beams of light shot out towards them. Harry dodged the attacks. One of the men lifted a particular large gauntlet and created a light purple energy construct. The fist rammed into Superman a couple of times. Superman closed his eyes and let loose with heat vision.
The heat vision hit the construct and burned the hands on the man at the same time. He quickly dropped the gloves before Superman flicked him down to the ground with a single finger. The Man of Steel whipped back and came crashing down onto the goon with a hard attack.
"Behind you!" Superwoman yelled.
Superman dodged two miniature missiles which released a blinding red dust. Before the dust could cover the ground, Superman turned like a top and sent the dust flying. It filtered the yellow solar radiation into red.
A beam of energy locked around Kara. She screamed in utter agony as one of the Intergang goons clamped around her. The struggle of Supergirl continued with the goon pressing his finger into the button and driving it deep inside.
"Burn!" the goon yelled. "Time for you to get crushed, Superwoman!"
Superman had been cut off halfway by a battlesuit. Several swooping motions drove Superman's fists into the suit. He clanged loudly against it. Superman edged inside and found a weak spot. A loud clap caused the goon to exit the battle suit and land right in front of the man controlling the device which was crushing Superman.
This momentary distraction allowed Superwoman to break free and sent ice breathe at the man before her. Superwoman flicked her finger back and broke the rest of the way out. She came completely down onto the man.
"Let's leave!"
One of the men hurled an explosive device into the air. Superman caught it and hurled it up to the sky. The loud beep, beep, beep followed before the device exploded. Superman dropped down and could hear the vans going off. The van containing the stolen goods had been blocked by the debris of the explosion.
The driver swore and kicked the windows out of the van. Cut up leg and all, the man stumbled around. Superwoman caught him by the neck.
"Who are you working for?" she demanded.
"Right, I'm no snitch."
Superman received the man in an instant. The man struggled to avoid the gaze of Superman and also the heat vision increased the temperature outside. It did not burn the man, but it made him sweat.
"Alright! Alright. I'll tell you. It's L…"
Boom, a green blast of energy blew the man's head off of his body. The man splattered into blood and guts all over Superman's body while dropping down. Harry pulled back, the blood spraying all over the place as he left the area. Kara grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Kara asked.
Physically he was, but mentally, Harry had been slightly shook. Especially when this situation had a new wrinkle.
"We've got trouble," Harry said. "Look."
The cousins looked up to the sky and noticed a man in a trenchcoat walking down the rooftop. The scanners gave up trace amounts of Kryptonite.
"Powered by Kryptonite," Harry muttered. "And not entirely human. Well that just complicates things."
The only question would be whether or not he was for or against Intergang. Superman took the sky and followed the man who had been rushing off. The man knew something and prevented the Intergang goons from saying something. That was quite suspicious and a bit too convenient.
X-X-X
The man in the trenchcoat appeared on the edge of the rooftop when suddenly Superman appeared in front of him. The trenchcoated man chuckled loudly, to the point where the Man of Steel blinked a couple of times.
"Who are you?"
"Well, they call me Metallo," he said. "The man who brought donw Superman."
The Kryptonite radiation filtered through the man's skin, which was made of a small metal alloy. Harry did not blink. It had been made invunerable to Kryptonite a long time agao.
"Give me your best shot."
A beam of green energy shot out and Superman dodged it. The Man of Steel rushed towards Metallo, only to find that his skin repelled the attacks. More attacks and the radiation blasted Superman back. Shielding or not, it was still a concussive blast which sent the Man of Steel back.
"My benefactor is well aware that you're immune to the stuff," Metallo said. "But, it's not how these little green rocks affect you. No, it's how they affect me. And how they can make me so much stronger. Stronger than you ever…."
Superman silenced Metallo with a grip to his neck. Only to find that Metallo knocked him back. Multiple punches bounced off the metal shell of the man before him. Superman reared back and rammed deep into him but his knuckles had been bruised.
"The more these green rocks power me, the stronger I get. Strong enough to do this."
Metallo hoisted Superman up in surprise. Harry discharged a wave of energy which resulted in Metallo's grip slipping. The Man of Steel had been blasted back by the impact. He spiralled downwards and landed down onto the ground with a very sizeable thud.
The members of Intergang turned up, about ready to attack him. Metallo dropped down, still more powerful than ever before.
"He's mine!" Metallo yelled.
"You killed one of our men."
"Just reminding you what happens to snitches. Cadmus built me to make sure you don't abuse her gifts. And that I get to abuse…"
A large truck knocked the mechanized Intergang members back. Metallo caught the truck only to see Superwoman blast the fuel line with heat vision. A loud boom echoed and sent Metallo spiraling back.
Superwoman leaned up and they used their super breath to block off the members of Intergang, which left them ready to deal with Metallo.
"Somehow, I don't think that was enough," Superman said. "We've got to get the Kryptonite away from him."
Superwoman picked up a pole and made an attempt to impale it through where the piece of rock was located. Only for the pole to crumple up. Metallo grabbed both of the cousins by the neck and slammed them down to the ground. He bent down and caused his skin to filter red solar radiation to begin to draining their powers.
"Good effort!" Metallo crowed. "But not quite what I wanted. In fact, I want…"
Supergirl came down from the heavens and knocked Metallo away. Metallo returned fire, only for Supergirl to point a small object at Metallo. The Kryptonite radiation siphoned off of him, until Metallo blasted off. Supergirl turned to see him leave him.
"Lena detected the excess Kryptonite radiation in the area," Supergirl said. "What was that?"
"Metallo," Harry commented with a groan. "Thanks for the save."
Kara and Harry stumbled which resulted in Kay flashing a look of most obvious concern on them.
"Come on, back to Horizon," Kay said. "Thara is with Lois. She was concerned when you didn't come back."
"Thought it was going to be a simple heist, but we ran into that," Kara said. "He mentioned Cadmus."
X-X-X
Back at Horizon, where Harry and Kara sat down. Thara moved in, helping Tess and Lena scan them. Kay returned, with a few pieces of weapons. Tess's eyes fell on them and sighed.
"This is what we feared," Tess said.
"Yes," Lena agreed. "Lillian has been busy. Your powers are coming back slowly, although another few minutes, and you might have had trouble."
"We're just going to have to find a way to block out the red solar filters," Harry said.
Lena nodded and turned her attention to the small amount of data she had been able to get from Metallo before he went underground and shut off his scanners. As Lena suspected, he was using the Kryptonite to empower himself.
"Who is he?" Kara asked.
"Whoever he was, he's not him any more," Lena said. "Lillian's back in action and she learned from her previous mistakes. Although there's something about these weapons that are more advanced."
"Not quite as advanced as the weapons Steppenwolf used," Thara commented. "But, they're of the same make."
"Great," Kara responded. "That's what we need right about now. More Apokolipian weapons."
Harry stood up and recognized the look in Metallo's face. Lillian left a weak spot in him which they could exploit. Obviously, she did not want a super powered individual that could crush her.
"The solar siphoner," Harry said.
"It works, yes," Lena said. "But not fast enough."
"The old model was able to draw more power quicker though," Tess said. "But there are drawbacks to it. If it draws too much power, it will release a miniature radiation explosion."
Harry picked up where Tess left off, understanding instantly the problem with it.
"Thus leading to another generation of meteor mutants."
"That might be Lillian's game," Lena suggested. "If Metallo is powered to a certain level, anyone who is near him might be affected. Kryptonian or not. And if they have any genes which could give them powers, that would bring forward a bran new race of mutants."
"So problem," Kay said. "And one we can solve."
Thara checked the scans and suddenly it hit her. And it appeared to hit Kara at the same exact time.
"Meet it halfway," Thara said. "Siphon the power enough so he can't move, and then he will be able to be taken out."
"We've got to get close enough," Harry said. "We need to…"
Harry's phone went off. He switched to the earpiece and answered it.
"Chloe, what do you have for me?" Harry asked.
"Intergang's base of operations," Chloe said. "And that Kryptonite powered cyborg would be there as well. Do you think you can go check it out?"
"Actually, that plays into my plans," Harry said. "Here's what we have to do now."
Superman motioned the entire group in to have a chat. When he talked, they all listened. Kara, Kay, Tess, Lena, and Thara helped piece together a battle plan to take down Metallo once and for all. And maybe get a clue of what Lillian Luthor's game was. After Lillian swore vengeance after Lex died from complications from injuries, Harry expected the other shoe to drop.
"You might need this as well," Lena said. "This disrupts the frequency those battle suits Intergang has been roaming around run off of."
Harry smiled and took it in his hand. This might come in handy.
"Thanks."
X-X-X
One time, Metallo was John Corben, but those days of being a pathetic weak human were over. He fought for his country and did things which were not appreciated by a jaded generation. Then he was left for dead, until Cadmus found him. Built him stronger, powerful, and more dangerous than ever. Despite years of service, Corben had been forgotten and a new generation of heroes had replaced him. One of them had been Superman.
The man was dead and only Metallo left. He moved in and smashed through the security doors. The members of Intergang, lead by Bruno Mannheim rose up.
"Expecting another man of steel, perhaps?" Metallo asked.
"Listen here!' Mannheim yelled. "You can't be popping off my men."
"Well, you rman was about ready to expose our entire operation," Metallo said. "You know our deal. You get the weapons which will take down the super powered threats. You get a small little piece of Metropolis. And our benefactor is very pleased."
"Yeah, I'm not scared of Lionel Luthor's old lady," Mannheim said. "Luthors are history."
"You don't understand what you're dealing with,' Metallo said. "I could crush you and your weapons and Superman as well."
"Yeah, guy was still breathing last I checked," Mannheim said. "Seems to me you got your ass handed to you by some teeny bopper in a skirt."
The men laughed. Mannheim had no such humor anymore. Mannheim felt nothing. His eyes locked onto the Intergang leader who made an attempt to stand up straight, despite the coldness in Metallo's haunting eyes gripping him.
"Take me if you think you can win," Metallo said." But you better be right."
"Blast him!" Mannheim yelled. "Come on, Arnold, show me what you got!"
The Intergang goons hesitated and turned their blasters on Metallo. Metallo absorbed all of the blasts and came back to send the Intergang goons down one at a time. The loud sound of bodies clattering and bones shattering echoed across the floor.
A huge mech came in. Metallo cut it off withh a beam of Kryptonite and forced the goon to evacauate. Metallo stomped on the man's head.
"This is not Cadmus issued, but you're asking for it now," Mannheim said.
Mannheim reared back with a huge cannon and blasted it towards Metallo. Several prominent blasts struck Metallo as he came forward. Metallo absorbed all of the energy possible including from the crates of meteor rock fragments Intergang horded to power their battle suits.
"Your turn."
A blast caught Metallo in the knee cap. Much to the cyborg's surprise, he dropped down and hissed angrily.
"Got you," Mannheim said. "Boys. Teach him some manners."
The Intergang members left standing took their weapons. They pointed at Metallo and fired, only to find that the weapons all stuck at the same time. They looked up into the sky. It was not a bird, it was not a plane.
Superman came down and lowered the boom on Intergang. Mannheim reached for another one of the weapons. Superman caught his arm and threw Mannheim across the room. The mob boss landed onto the card table with a loud crack.
"I have to thank you for whatever you did," Metallo said. "Now, I can kill you."
"No!"
Superman withdrew the solar siphoner and blasted Metallo with it. Metallo stepped back a few feet as the Kryptonite radiation sucked off of him. Superman poured the juice on Metallo and drained him. Metallo screamed and reached for the siphoner to try and bust it.
"What now, boss?" one of them yelled.
"Move it or lose your head!" Mannheim yelled. "We've got to regroup!"
Intergang fled like cockroachs. Metallo screamed as Superman slammed a hand through his chest and ripped the Kryptonite heart out. Metallo dropped to his knees as Superman hurled the power source away.
"Ten minutes," Harry said. "Or less."
Metallo's head exploded right before Harry's eyes. Harry took a step back to shield himself from the debris. The moment the dust cleared, a holographic image of Lillina Luthor's head appeared.
"You will fall," Lillian said. "I will make you pay for killing my son. You don't understand the power I now have."
Harry eyed the technology around him. Familiar, given Harry dealt with very similar pieces of weaponry over the last couple of days. And the thought caused his stomach to turn in disgust.
"And you don't either," Harry said.
Those words fell on deaf ears as Lillian disappeared. Harry would have to call him some help to clear the place out, because it was unwise to leave this caliber of weapon lying around. Not to mention, one headless Kryptonite powered cyborg.
X-X-X
Two pieces of weaponry laid side by side in the lab. One of them taken from the attack from Apokolips by Steppenwolf and his followers. The other one taken by Intergang's recent attack. Lena Luthor frowned when she looked at them.
"The similarities are amazing," Lena said. "And terrifying."
"I agree," Harry said. "Steppenwolf hinted that Darkseid has his eyes on Earth. This is proof it is."
"Yes," Lena said. "I know you're ready for it."
"I have to be."
The device to save Argo's shields from being overloaded by Kryptonite radiation was good and ready to go. Lena thought they had come this far. Kay and Thara hung on a little bit, while Harry and Lena worked on finding more countermeasures for more advanced weaponry.
Off to the side, a commercial played on the upcoming election in Gotham City.
"Mayor Hamilton Hill has forsaken all of the lost souls in Gotham City. Vote for a leader who matters. Vote for Joseph Blackfire to bring you to the promised land and bring great change in Gotham City."
Lena would have been a bit more interested in a charismatic leader with a cult-like following gripping control of Gotham City and closing in to become Mayor. But, she had to find these countermeasures for an upcoming invasion. And her stepmother being involved caused an additional twist and further problems.
X-X-X
Kara tapped on the door to the Apartment she shared with Siobhan.
"Siobhan?"
The door opened and Kara stepped inside. She put her bag down and held up the bag containing the soup. It would deal with the problems with Siobhan was dealing with as of late.
"I brought you…"
Kara's voice trailed off as she locked onto Siobhan who stared into the mirror with a far off look in her eyes. And then her body shifted, to give Kara a look at her face. Her sunken in eyes, gaunt face, and white hair made her resemble more of a banshee.
Siobhan opened her mouth and a scream came out. Kara had been caught off guard and knocked through the wall towards the street below.
The Woman of Steel shielded herself from all of the debris and prevented it from falling on innocent bystanders. The entire apartment had been trashed by Siobhan's screams.
Kara ascended back up and shook the cobwebs out. The dust cleared and her friend was gone.
"Harry, we have a bit of a problem," Kara said. "Siobhan, she's...well you better get over here quickly."
"I'll be right over."