NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Flight?
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(General P.O.V)
The streets below the Daily Planet were packed with honking vehicles and curious pedestrians.
Superman's battle with the Dragon had caused the destruction of a few buildings a few blocks down, leading to a police perimeter that cordoned off the area.
Behind a garbage truck that was parked on a sidewalk close to an intersection, sat a white van labelled, 'Maker's Cleaners.'
Inside the Van however, were no cleaning products. Instead, a short, pot bellied man with wide googles and an oil stained lab coat, sat surrounded by numerous screens.
All of which showed Superman battling the Dragon from different angles.
"Kekeke...good one, my Toy Dragon. Bring me Superman's remains!"
The Toymaker cackled in glee after the Man of Steel was sent flying through the wall of a building.
Contrary to the order given to finish him off, the Dragon stalled, It's optics catching something interesting.
("Kryptonian Detected. Commencing Termination.")
The Dragon switched to the new target and started flying on a different direction to where Superman had fallen.
'No no no what is It doing...huh? Wait...'
Toymaker was about to blow a fuse when he stopped.
Through the display feeding off the Dragon's optics, he saw two figures on the rooftop of the Daily Planet.
"Oh? What's this?"
One was running, while the Target stayed put, facing the Dragon.
'Maybe he was too terrified to move.'
Toymaker determined.
The Target looked like a boy, though the image was too unstable to get a clear picture.
Something stood out however. As the Dragon got closer, the boy's eyes began glowing.
"Oh oh oh oh...now this is juicy."
Toymaker gave a slow evil chuckle.
"Luthor will have a field day...kekekeke."
-Jon's P.O.V-
Flight.
The bane of my existence.
Even after a few lessons from Dad where he describing it as 'you gotta feel it Jon. You're not just pushing off the ground, you're also keeping yourself up in the air...'
He was right of course. Technically, to do both you needed Thrust and a Steady force output to counter the effects of Gravity.
I had the first- I could jump 10 miles on my best day, what I was missing was the second requirement. How to stabilize and KEEP myself suspended in the atmosphere.
The second the large bronze sphere fell off the multi-storied building, I found myself jumping after it, without a plan of action.
The wind passed around me, sweeping my hair back.
Fortunately, the glasses shielded my eyes from the pressure, allowing me to keep my sights focused on the target.
Kryptonians could react thousands if not millions of times faster than normal humans.
I had measured my reaction speeds to a hundred of that, which meant while the Metal Sphere was less than 20 seconds from impacting the ground, to my perception- those 20 seconds were akin to 2 minutes.
'I got this, I'll just let Dad handle the Dragon.'
Someone had to save the civilians below. I was probably not anyone's first choice, but there was no one else for the job.
'Shit, it's dropping faster than I am falling.'
I realized. Gritting my teeth, I placed my hands along my legs and adopted a more streamlined diving pose.
My falling speed immediately increased, putting me close to the sphere- now halfway to the ground.
I could almost touch it's golden form, but then physics took over and the sphere started pulling away from me, dropping even faster.
By now, the civilians on the ground were noticing the shadow cast above them and reacting in panic. With the streets packed with cars and crowds of people, escaping in time was not an option.
'Crap, what should I do? If I could Fly...no! use what you have Jon! Maybe Heat Vision to blow it up? Bad idea. Hot shrapnel will then rain down. What about Freeze Breath?...not that either. My range is small and it's not as focused as heat vision- I might accidentally freeze the civilians. Then what!? Super speed? Super Strength... SUPER STRENGTH!!'
My eyes widened under the glasses, brain recalling something. The day I first awakened to my powers.
I remember causing a shockwave that almost blew the house away, simply by sweeping my hand out into the air.
'That's it! If my falling speed is not enough, I'll just increase it! I only need to create a shockwave and ride the blow back.'
Quickly, I sprayed my hands to the side, and in a motion too fast to see, swung them back.
The air under my palms behind me cracked, and in an instant, I was past the Bronze Ball, a few dozen meters from impacting the top of a white Van.
Reorienting my body, so I was feet first, I slapped my hands together, the fingers facing down.
The action produced another crack! Sound that shattered every window in the vicinity, with the added effect of pushing me to the sky like a rocket. A straight line for a head on collision with the bronze sphere.
I stopped thinking.
Letting out a roar that sounded more like a scream, I swung my right hand back, putting all the strength I had into the punch that rolled forward, pushing all the air away from it's path, as it collided with the golden surface, a few inches away from the sphere's center point.
Metal folded around my fist like a baseball right at the moment of impact with a bat. The metal sphere trembled, sending vibrations through my hand.
Kinetic energy was fully transferred through, deforming the sphere at the point of collision...
BOOM!
The dull sound produced was like a wake up call. Suddenly, the massive 10+ ton of bronze was sent flying away, cresting the tallest buildings around while leaving a keening wail behind.
I watched it until it exhausted momentum about 800 meters(2624.67 feet) before it started dipping down...towards...the river.
A smile of relief spread on my face.
'I had aimed the strike perfectly. Thank Rao.'
'Wait...I'm supposed to be falling right?'
A surprised laugh escaped me as I stared down at the ground- hundreds of feet away.
I hadn't noticed it due to the whole tense situation, but, somehow, someway, I was now flying.
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People on the street below, had their eyes turned to the sky.
Only a blind and/or deaf person would have missed the Giant Daily Planet Sphere that had almost crushed them. Or the air cracking under immense physical pressure.
One second there was a shadow, the next a dull ringing sound swept through the area.
"Look...up there!..."
One man, holding a phone called out, filming a small figure dressed in a long sleeved T-shirt and pants hanging in the air.
The red and white color of the T-shirt contrasted well with the blue slacks.
"...Is it Superman?..."
"...Can't be. Supes was fighting the Dragon..."
"...Could be a new Superhero..."
"...They look young..."
"...He saved us..."
The distance made it hard to make out who the Savior was. And as Jon blasted off into the air, the mystery was left unsolved.
Emergency services arrived on the scene soon after. But apart from a few light cuts caused by the glass from shattered windows, the only major casualty was of an old Man who was found passed out inside a White Van. The Van had a deformed back.
Police arrested him once his identity was revealed as Cosmo Krank, the Toymaker. The Van was also seized.
Later, his connection with the Robot Dragon would be established and Toymaker would be slated for a trial.
Coincidentally, the Dragon went rogue and tried to self destruct after Toymaker lost control of it.
Superman had to fly it out to orbit before it could explode. When he came back, he caught wind of a mysterious helper, who was responsible for saving a lot of civilian lives.
He resolved to find them...right after fishing the Daily Planet's Sign from the depths of the river.
All in all, just a regular crazy day in Metropolis.
-Jon's P.O.V-
"Jon! Where are you..."
Mom bust through the doors of her office with worry lining her brow, Jimmy in tow.
Only for me to swerve around on her chair, placing the family picture back on the desk.
"Hey Ma. What's wrong? You look spooked."
She deflated in relief like a baloon, walking over and hugging me.
"Oh thank goodness. You're safe. Jimmy thought he saw you go to the rooftop..."
"Oh did he?"
I said, hugging her back while glaring at Jimmy who was staring at me in a mix of shock and disbelief.
Dude sold me out. I could understand why, but...
''Once a Traitor...always Traitor.''
I mouthed at him and Jimmy looked down, embarrassed.
"Uh sorry Lois...I guess I saw someone els-"
He said in a sheepish tone, only for me to cut him off,
"He's right. I was thinking of heading up there but then I felt the building shake, so I hid in the Bathroom."
Mom was appeased with that.
Jimmy looked surprised that I covered for him.
'You owe me.'
I mouthed his way and a smile replaced his downcast expression. Jimmy gave me a thumbs up.
Good. Now I have both Blackmail material and he owes me a favor. Was it heroic? Not really. Dad would never take advantage of anyone- allies or enemy.
But here I am- his own Son, doing so to someone who could be considered a brother to him. Was I a hypocrite?
'No, I can't think like that. Batman makes contingencies for everything, that's why he's always prepared. That quality is the reason a normal human like him can stand shoulder to shoulder with Gods and Monsters. I'm just copying him. Planning. A half Kryptonian like me needs that edge.'
And the truth was, a guy like Jimmy Olsen could be useful down the line.
This detour to the Planet wasn't in vain, it actually paid off. I got a source of information, and most importantly, I did it! I awakened my Flight ability!
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Back in the car, I strapped in my seat belt and turned to Ma.
"Done."
"Let's get you to that Birthday."
Ma smiled, keying the engine.
Yeah. Let's.