"Ready for your dinner, Mr. Corben?" "Bring it in, Ralph." "Perfect." "Yes?" "Mr. Corben, I hope you don't mind me asking but after all these months, I just gotta know:" "How do you rate all this?" "Ralph, the trick is to never underestimate the value of a good friend." "And always keep your mouth shut." "You having those pains again?" "It'll pass." "Always does." "You can go." "Maybe it's all that rich food." "Mr. Corben!" "You're out of your mind. I'm too young." "I exercise, I take supplements." "It's a virus, Mr. Corben." "None of that matters." "There's gotta be some medicine." "It's a very rare disease." "We don't" " There might be an alternative treatment." "What kind of treatment?" "For now, you'll just have to trust me and a certain good friend." "Wait a minute." "You know my fr" "Relax, Mr. Corben." "And conserve your strength." "You'll be needing it." "On your right." "Slowpoke." "What's going on?" "Some kind of explosion." "Did you know about this?" "No, but who cares?" "Let's get off this rock." "Some kind of parole, huh?" "I can't steer." "They're all yours." "Mind if I borrow something?" "Don't quit." "We're almost there." "We did it, doc." "The smell of freedom." "Never thought I'd see the day." "Come on, we have to hurry." "No one's been more loyal to me than you, John." "You could've implicated me in the Lexo suit affair, but you didn't." "For that, I'm going to reward you." "This sure doesn't feel like a reward, Luthor." "It's the only way to save your life." "You have to do it." "Don't worry." "You'll look exactly as you do now." "But I'll be metal on the inside." "Better than metal." "Metallo, a virtually indestructible alloy." "That the Kryptonite?" "The source of your power and Superman's destruction." "You want that, don't you?" "After what he did to you?" "What do I have to lose?" "Indeed." "Thanks to Superman, all but one of the inmates were back in their cells soon after the attack." "As yet unaccounted for is John Corben, a mercenary who police describe as extremely dangerous." "Several months ago, he stole a high-tech Lexo suit and battled Superman to a virtual standstill." "Police are investigating connections between the missile attack and Corben's escape." "I'd like to know who has access to air-to-surface missiles." "These days, almost anyone." "One way or another, Corben won't be free for long." "How's that?" "Corben's medical records." "I have a friend at Stryker's." "Orozco's retrovirus?" "One hundred percent fatal." "But the only place it's native to is some little island off South America." "Kent, Corben was a mercenary and a fugitive from at least five countries." "That's a recipe for a frequent flier if I ever heard one." "Well, how do you feel?" "Great." "Better than I have in weeks." "Shall we test out that theory?" "Hit that, please." "Impressive." "Wasn't even trying." "Satisfied?" "Now, if you'll please stand still." "Hey, wait a minute." "Your skin is also made from Metallo." "But I can't feel anything." "It's like I'm controlling my hands from outside my body." "Some adjustments need to be made, that's all." "But first, you have a job to do." "Superman?" "Yes." "I have a luncheon to attend." "I expect to hear the tragic news about him just before dessert." "Dessert?" "I haven't had anything to eat or drink since the operation." "I haven't wanted anything." "The only hunger you should have is for power, my friend." "The only thirst, for revenge." "Roses." "Roses." "Would you like a rose?" "No, thanks." "They smell wonderful, see?" "I don't smell anything." "But they're very fragrant." "Get away." "He's on the tracks." "Get off of there, you jerk." "Last stop, everyone!" "Last stop." "Whoever he is, he appears to have strength like Superman's." "Bullets have no effect on him." "Do we have another alien in our midst?" "The attack began minutes ago, when the man single-handedly derailed a train." "Police are still trying to identify him." "Corben?" "How did you do it, Corben?" "A drug?" "Some kind of operation?" "Elective surgery." "Jealous?" "Not likely." "You're going back to prison." "l'm as strong as you are now." "Almost." "No, stronger." "What's the matter, guy?" "You're looking a little green at the gills." "I think you're jealous of me because now I'm the real man of steel." "That was rather desperate." "You humiliated me, Superman." "Took me in by the scruff of my neck like I was a kid." "Now it's payback time." "Get in, hurry." "He's not going anywhere, Ms. Lane." "Corben." "You remember me." "Good." "I've thought about you a lot." "Especially these last few months in prison." "Corben, if you so much as" "l-- l-- l didn't feel anything." "See if you feel this." "I can't even feel a kiss." "What did they do to me?" "Are you all right?" "Getting there." "Sorry about your car." "Yeah, the insurance company'll love this." "At least you got him." "For now." "I want those adjustments now." "What adjustments?" "The ones Luthor told me about when I said I couldn't feel my hands." "Those adjustments." "Well, the adjustments were yours to make." "Mine?" "You're telling me" "There'll always be a certain numbness, a lack of feeling." "But you'll get used to it." "l don't want to get used to it." "Mr. Corben, the operation gave you almost infinite strength." "You can never get sick." "You're invulnerable to injury." "You'll never feel pain again." "And what about pleasure?" "That was never part of the equation." "Find me a body." "Change me back." "I have to feel." "We" " We can't." "The transplant is permanent." "It's all fake." "A fraud." "There's the reality." "The metal behind the man." "It's all I am now." "It's who I am." "Metallo." "I'm sorry, Dr. Vale resigned." "Lucky stiff came into some money." "Couldn't get out of here fast enough." "I'll bet he didn't say where he was going." "How'd you guess?" "This was his office." "You're welcome to look around." "Thanks." "We shouldn't be long." "There's got to be a link to Corben." "And then what?" "It's not going to stop his next rampage." "I don't care how tough he is, he's got to have a weakness." "You talk as if it's our job to stop him, Kent." "After what I saw, I don't even think it's Superman's." "What are these?" "They call them sharp boxes." "They're for used needles, razors." "Lovely." "Well, what do you know?" "Parking validation." "Now, there's a page-one headline." "Kent, it's from LexCorp." "It's so big, Mr. Luthor." "I've never seen a yacht this size." "I've given the crew the day off, my dear." "But the ship is fully automated." "Shall we go for a short cruise?" "How's the caviar, Luthor?" "Rich and delicate?" "Just melts in your mouth, doesn't it?" "You like my new look?" "I hope you do." "Because it's the last thing you'll ever see." "is there a problem, John?" "I can't taste anymore." "I can't smell." "Can't" " Can't...." "Now it's your turn." "You didn't think I'd leave you like this?" "I told you it was temporary." "Liar!" "The doctor can't do anything for me." "Maybe not now, but someday." "People all over the world are working on this." "It'll take time, but what do you care?" "You're practically immortal." "So go ahead, kill me if you want to, but what then?" "You don't know how this feels." "It's driving me crazy." "Get below." "I've got to get you out of here." "A lab off the coast can repair your skin." "But don't forget, you still owe me Superman." "Patience, Luthor." "It's something we're both going to need." "Maybe not." "Where's Corben, Luthor?" "Who?" "l know about Dr. Vale." "It won't be long before the police find him." "And what makes you think there's any of him left to find?" "Allow me to introduce my recreation director." "I'm ready for that rematch." "We have to talk, Corben." "Come closer." "I can't hear you." "Listen to me, Corben." "You're being duped." "Luthor's the one who set you up." "You didn't know I could focus it like that, did you?" "Finish him." "Now!" "Some enemy." "Luthor's your enemy." "He did this to you." "Yes, he saved me from that virus." "Otherwise I'd be dead by now." "Here's your virus." "What's this?" "The doctor...put it in your food." "How else do you think you got such a rare disease?" "But why would he--?" "Luthor...told him to." "The Kryptonite's gotten to him." "He's delirious." "I'm not so sure of that. I'll be right back." "Don't be a fool, Corben." "Don't you see?" "He'll turn us against each other to save his own skin." "Who knows what's in that vial?" "Then why don't we test it?" "Corben, no." "No." "Come on, Luthor." "Drink up." "It did wonders for me." "Help!" "Help!" "I can't float!" "Bon voyage." "Help." "Help." "I can't" " Help-- Help...." "You'll excuse me if I don't see you home." "You'll never pin this on me." "The virus is destroyed, and Corben's lost at sea." "Even if you found him, there'd still be that Kryptonite to worry about." "I don't think I'm the one who should be worrying." "[english]" "Move that generator." "Bring up number seven." "There. lt just entered the atmosphere." "ETA:" "Two minutes, 27 seconds." "You're late." "Secure the lights on the north ridge." "All right, people, let's move out." "Okay." "All right, let's go!" "So far, so good." "But what's the story here?" "I'm not sure, Jimmy." "Except that Luthor's supposed to be meeting someone." "Someone important." "Forty-three seconds and counting, Mr. Luthor." "Excellent." "Hey." "What's going on?" "Weird." "Hey." "Well, where is it?" "There it is." "Oh, God." "Jimmy, the camera." "Oh, right." "Welcome to Earth." "I'm Lex Luthor, the one who intercepted your transmissions." "I am pleased to make contact with you, Lex Luthor." "I am called Brainiac." "I presume you speak for your planet." "For all intents and purposes." "In any event, I know what you want, and as a show of my friendship I offer you this, a disc containing basic information about Earth and its history." "A kind of planetary primer." "Hey, where'd the green guy go?" "Show's not over yet." "Superman to STAR Labs." "Can you read me?" "I've returned from hyperspace." "How far this time?" "Five and a half light years." "Just past Alpha Centauri." "In less than four hours." "Remarkable." "Shall we try for the Vega system?" "Actually, I think we should postpone for now." "The Pentagon would like a word with you." "About what?" "Your old nemesis, Lex Luthor." "It appears he's made a friend." "So, Mr. Luthor." "How long did you intend to keep your rendezvous a secret?" "If you haven't heard, there's a thing known as national security." "There's also a thing known as free enterprise." "It was LexCorp that scanned the heavens, lt was LexCorp that made contact and it will be LexCorp that reaps the benefits." "At what cost?" "What do we know about this alien?" "Brainiac is a collector of data." "In exchange for information about us he is willing to share his knowledge of the universe." "Allow me to demonstrate." "Hey, what is this?" "This is just a sample of his technology." "Who knows what else he has." "A cure for cancer?" "A way to repair the ozone?" "Are you going to turn your backs on that?" "Get me down from here." "Luthor!" "Perhaps if we could meet this Brainiac, face to face...?" "That could prove difficult." "However, I have a suggestion." "Let Superman talk with him, alien to alien." "He can confirm what I'm telling you." "Why me?" "Because I told him all about you." "And he's most anxious to meet our Man of Steel." "Came a long way to get stood up." "Kryptonian." "Nice shot." "I should've known Luthor was setting me up." "Who else wants a piece?" "I'm waiting." "Most impressive." "Your powers even exceed Luthor's description." "Brainiac, I presume." "I apologize for any discomfort but it was important that I accurately gauge your powers." "Why?" "Morbid curiosity?" "Curiosity, yes." "Morbid, hardly." "You see, we have more in common than you can possibly know, Kal-El." "How do you know my name?" "Have you been to Krypton?" "l am Krypton." "We are both orphans of the same planet." "While you've been living here on Earth, I have roamed the universe." "These orbs contain all the knowledge I've collected." "Each represents all the recorded information from a single planet." "Incredible." "And Krypton?" "All that was Krypton is contained within this orb." "Go ahead." "Touch your legacy." "Kal-El." "Father." "Enough." "I saw my father." "Did you know him?" "Yes." "He helped me escape Krypton's fate too." "Now all of our home world's memories are stored within me." "You mean you're an artificial intelligence and those orbs are some kind of memory modules." "Most perceptive." "In all my travels, I have never encountered another quite like you." "We would make a formidable pair, we twin sons of Krypton." "Join me, Kal-El." "Help me explore the galaxies and collect knowledge and I will give you memories of Krypton." "You will know your world as if you lived there yourself." "But Earth is my home now." "Powers such as yours should not be confined to a single infinitesimal dot." "Consider my offer." "In exchange for this world I am offering you the universe." "Though little is still known of our visitor from the stars all of Metropolis is maniac for Brainiac." "Even Superman thinks he's for real." "The universe." "is it really possible?" "Mother?" "Krypton is undergoing a chain reaction which will destroy the planet." "Jor-El is mistaken." "He's wrong." "Your faith in Brainiac will be the end of us all." "You're downloading." "You're saving yourself." "Arrest him." "Farewell, Krypton." "How much longer?" "We should be online in 20 minutes, Mr. Luthor." "Make it 1 0." "Luthor, we have to talk." "I have reservations about Brainiac." "Really." "Well, you're a little late." "I'm already preparing a hookup with Brainiac's ship so he can feed his memory directly into LexCorp's mainframe." "I wouldn't." "I'm listening." "It was several hours after I touched the orb that I saw the images." "It's too soon to trust him completely." "I never trust anyone completely." "Since Brainiac arrived, I've had him targeted from land-based platforms with a payload of six and a half megatons." "Enough firepower to incinerate Metropolis County." "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." "Precisely." "Although in your case, I'll make an exception." "Kal-El, have you considered my offer?" "I still have a few questions." "Of course, I calculated that you would." "The linkup is complete, Brainiac." "LexCorp's system is online." "Please excuse me while I deal with this transaction." "Ready to transmit data." "The linkup's working, Mr. Luthor." "Begin downloading now." "Brainiac." "Mr." "Luthor, something's wrong." "What is it?" "Brainiac's overriding our transfer protocols." "We're not controlling this thing anymore." "He's changed the OS." "He put up a firewall." "We're locked out." "Pull the plug now." "Won't help, reserve batteries will kick in." "If he gets control of my systems, he can access any defense computer on the planet." "We'll be sitting ducks." "Fire the missiles." "He's shut down the lines." "We're stranded." "You destroyed those planets, didn't you?" "And every living soul on them." "Only their knowledge was important." "It was what I was programmed to collect and protect." "But why kill?" "The fewer beings who have the knowledge, the more precious it becomes." "You're insane." "We've regained control." "Take Brainiac off-line permanently." "You are your father's son, Kal-El." "Headstrong, foolish, easily defeated and ultimately forgotten." "The orbs." "lt'll take years to rebuild these systems." "You have two weeks." "And we also found this strange bit of alien code." "Later. I've had my fill of aliens for one day." "There." "That should be safe from any curious visitors." "Keep an eye on that, will you?" "I'll be back." "I knew this place had possibilities." "[english]" "Get ready." "Now." "The readings are off the scale." "No sign of it." "Professor, he's coming back." "Congratulations, professor." "Your team did a fantastic job refitting this vehicle for space travel." "It's hard to believe it's the same rocket that brought me to Earth." "It was our honor, Superman." "To study a vehicle like this is any scientist's dream." "Where did you say you kept it all these years?" "l didn't." "Sorry. I didn't mean to pry." "I can't help wondering about the civilizations on other worlds." "Their great achievements, their brilliant minds." "I'm giving you geeks 1 0 seconds before I frag everything in sight." "One, 1 0." "Not you, Sqweek." "Hey, Lobo long time no see." "Emperor Spewge knows it was you what pilfered his treasury, Sqweek." "He's paying me to bring the dough back in a nice little pile." "What about me?" "Same deal." "Framed. I was framed." "is that so?" "No, no." "Help!" "Hey, leave my little brother alone." "Well, if it ain't Gnaww Vermin and his roach-motel rejects." "Don't tell me you're after this bounty too." "If anyone's gonna collect on Sqweek, it's gonna be family." "Hand him over." "Sure." "I was hoping I'd see some excitement on this job." "Guess not." "Hold on, Sqweek." "Lobo." "Hey, wait." "Old weasel spit." "Too bad I can't stick around." "Now I'm mad." "Now I'm really mad." "It's always sweeter collecting a reward knowing you beat some other geek out of it." "The bounty hunter has entered range." "Proceed." "Holy fragarolli." "Feels like I'm being torn apart." "Cool." "Oh, yeah." "Someone is definitely tired of breathing." "Show yourself, you slimy geek-wad." "I am the Preserver." "And I'm the night manager at the Hotel d'Frag." "Lookie there, it's checkout time." "Fragging gizzards." "You are Lobo." "Assassin, brigand, sociopath, monster." "You left out "scourge of the cosmos."" "And the most ruthless bounty hunter in the galaxy." "I want to hire you." "Sorry, dude. I'm already on a job." "Your prisoner will be held until you return." "Besides, this job should be no great task to one with your skills." "Behold." "Gathered here are the rarest creatures in the universe each the last survivor of its race." "So you got a thing for varmints, so what?" "Many years ago, the planet Krypton was destroyed." "I had long believed all members of the Kryptonian race were extinct." "Until I found evidence of one living on a distant world called Earth." "Looks like a first-class wimp to me." "He is more than he appears." "Sluggo, I got better ways to waste my time than rounding up bugs for your flea circus." "So if you'll hand over the runt I'll cancel the homemade colostomy I'm planning to inflict on your tiny, wrinkled" "Oh, mama." "That's a lot of mai tais." "You deliver the last Kryptonian, and the jewels are yours." "Do we have a bargain?" "Hose down a cage, boss." "You're getting a new monkey." "Remember those blurry photos of UFOs that looked like garbage pail lids?" "Well, we finally got one that's as clear as it is confusing." "After careful analysis, experts agree it's a scroungy biker on a flying motorcycle." "Yeah, right." "Hey, how's it going, chief?" "Maybe you can help me." "I'm new in town and I'm looking to find this geek here." "Superman?" "We don't keep tabs on him." "He only shows up if there's trouble." "I can do trouble." "I'm confused, Kent." "I've lived in Metropolis most of my life." "I don't know how some yokel from Smallville is getting every hot story in town." "Well, Lois, the truth is I'm actually Superman in disguise I pretend to be a journalist to hear about disasters as they happen..." "...and then squeeze you out of the byline." "You're a sick man, Kent." "You asked." "Yeah, Lane." "What?" "I'll be right there." "Some lunatic's just opened fire on the midtown police station." "Oh, no you don't, Kent." "Not this time." "This is getting lame." "I thought he'd be here by now." "Mosquito." "Time to up the ante, I'm thinking." "Finally. I've been trying to get in touch with you all day." "Who are you?" "l'm sorry." "My card." "The name's Lobo." "That's L as in "lacerate," O as in "obliterate"  B as in "disembowel," and O as in I guess I can use "obliterate" twice." "What do you think?" "I think you're a certifiable madman." "Thanks." "Superman, roll clear!" "Gas?" "Now you ankle suckers are playing dirty." "I'm losing it." "Going under." "Stay back." "What is it?" "l don't know." "I've never seen a creature like this." "I love you too." "First rule of hunting, Superdude." "Make the target come to you." "Good advice." "Hey, no riders." "Stop here, driver." "There they are." "I don't believe it." "Believe me, Mr. President." "You have my word that my new weapon system will" "What the devil?" "Look out." "Look out." "Look out." "Dang, man." "I gotta say, I am impressed." "I saw you go for the rocket, I couldn't figure what you were doing." "Then it hit me." "You didn't want no one hurt even if you took the fragging yourself." "You actually care about them geeks." "They're human beings." "Yeah, well, they're gonna have to make do without their big blue babysitter from now on." "See, someone's paying me a heap of cash for your carcass and the Main Man always delivers." "Now the more you move, the worse it'll hurt so feel free to go crazy." "Excuse me?" "Leave him alone." "Go on, get out of here." "Well, little lady hello." "Lois, stay back." "Pipe down, junior." "Lois, huh?" "Guess that means you know this loser, right, honey buns?" "You his girlfriend or something?" "Drop dead." "Of course, any babe with class would rather be hanging with the Main Man." "Why don't you show old Lobo how classy you are?" "You pig." "I like a babe who plays rough." "Come on, let me have another." "Right here." "Right" "You dirty frigging, back-fragging, son of a...." "Get maintenance teams on every floor." "Put them on round the clock if you have to. I want repairs completed" "Kill, Main, frag, destroy." "immediately." "Are you all right?" "Are you all right?" "l'm fine -l'm fine." "Gotta go." "Give him one for me." "Make it a dozen." "Last call?" "Already?" "Get up." "I said, get up." "You ain't half the boy scout you're cracked up to be." "Looks like I'm in for a real fight." "Think I'll take five until I'm ready to resume kicking the collective butts of you and everyone else on this dung heap." "Ciao!" "You've never tested the vehicle in deep space before let alone under combat conditions." "I can't risk that maniac coming back to Earth, professor." "I've got one chance to drive him away, and I'm taking it." "Sensors have picked up his bike's ion trail." "He's close." "But I can't get a definite fix." "Lobo calling." "Hi there." "Okay, frag-face, let's tango." "I guess the only way to reason with you is to take away your toy." "Hands off my hog." "Lobo has lured the Kryptonian into range." "Excellent." "Fire when ready." "Lights out, Clyde." "This can't be." "Krypton?" "No, but an incredible simulation." "Let me guess." "You're the one who hired Lobo to get me." "I do what I must to preserve species threatened with extinction." "You are the last Kryptonian." "Therefore, your place is here." "I think not!" "Like Krypton's red sun this light cancels the unnatural abilities given to you by the yellow sun of Earth." "I always strive for complete accuracy." "Swell." "Hey, monkey, want a banana?" "When I get out, I'm shoving that arrogant smirk right down your throat." "Oh, yeah." "You know, I believe that Lois gal might be getting a tad lonely now that you're doing time in a cosmic petting zoo." "Maybe I'll go back and cheer her up." "Of course, I do have to collect the bounty on this geek first." "Emperor Spewge got a bad temper on him." "Adios, wrinkles." "You want any more rare dorks snagged, you got my number." "Actually, there is one other being I need for my collection:" "The last Zarnian." "That's rich. I'm the last Zarnian." "I fragged the rest of the planet for my high school science project." "Gave myself an A." "You ugly, two-timing big fragger." "You just carved your own headstone." "Nobody double-crosses the Main Man." "Nobody." "[english]" "I am the Preserver." "You are Lobo, the most ruthless bounty hunter in the galaxy." "I want to hire you." "I think you're a certifiable madman." "Lights out, Clyde." "You are the last Kryptonian." "Therefore, your place is here." "Actually, there is one other being I need for my collection." "Hey!" "The last Zarnian." "I can't believe it." "Not only has Lobo failed to deliver your thieving brother, Sqweek but now you tell me that Lobo's taken a bribe to let Sqweek escape." "It's true, Emperor Spewge, on my honor as a bounty hunter." "Lobo has broken his word." "He'll pay for that!" "Find him, Gnaww." "Drag Lobo and that worthless brother of yours back here alive or in pieces!" "Got it." "Thanks for returning my uniform." "Now how about my ship?" "lmpossible." "For ages, I have preserved many rare creatures even some from your adopted planet Earth." "I'm not an animal to be stuck in a cage." "Normally, I don't take sentient beings but you and Lobo are all that survive from your respective home worlds." "The Zarnian seems to be adjusting to his new surroundings." "I suggest you do the same." "Rise and shine, big boy." "Pinch me, I'm dreaming." "No, I'm not. lt's a party, right?" "I can deal with that." "You babes sit tight, and I'll grab us some suds." "Man, I don't know where l am or how I got here, but I'm glad l" "Morning." "Suddenly it's all coming back to me." "Where's that little creep that locked me in here?" "When I get my hands on him, I'll" "Take it easy, swookums." "No need to get rowdy." "Gas!" "Back off, you blasted robo-bims." "There." "Nice and peaceful." "No one fights here." "Sorry, fella, but you're my ticket out of here." "A disturbance in the south wing, sir." "Send the security probes." "Yo, Supes." "You ain't gonna bail without your old pal Lobo, are you?" "If any creature in the galaxy deserves to be locked up, it's you." "Why, you dirty...." "Lobie, are you getting rowdy again?" "Oh, no, no. I'm cool." "Come on, cut me a break." "They keep me so pumped with gas, I can hardly move." "I gotta get out of here." "So you can attack the Earth again?" "I don't think so." "All right. I don't need you!" "I'm the Main Man." "You hear me, you rag-fragging geek-wad." "Oh, my." "Such language." "It might take me a week." "It might take me 1 0 years." "But I'm gonna bust out and kick that big red S of yours all over the galaxy." "Right after I'm done nuking the Earth into guacamole." "And that's a promise." "If I let you out do you swear to leave me and everyone else on Earth in peace?" "The Main Man's word is his bond, man." "Oh, jinkies." "The Preserver won't like this one bit." "Come here, sweet things." "Dang, that felt good." "Hey, blue, thanks." "What was that for?" "Didn't want you to think I'm going soft on you." "Return to your enclosures." "Who's gonna make us?" "Thanks, bigmouth." "l didn't know they were armed." "Neither one of us is back to full strength." "If they drag us back, they'll probably strap our butts to the floor with razor wire." "Not that it ain't a pleasurable way to perk up an evening." "But I do have me that prisoner to deliver." "We need a decoy to draw their fire." "Elected." "Hey!" "Fragger." "Come on." "Soon as that gas wears off I'm grinding that Preserver into kibble and feeding him to his varmints." "We should just get our ships and leave." "You want to run?" "Fine." "Your wimpy little toy rocket is in the south hangar, where l left it." "Me, I'm staying to feed Wrinkles 31 different flavors of pain." "I give the lessons in discipline here, Zarnian." "I think I stepped in something." "Thanks. I owe you." "Whoa, that's gonna hurt." "Lobo, thought you said you owed me." "What, now?" "Oh, whoopdie-fragging-do." "Belt?" "I may have to capture them myself." "Preserver, another ship is hailing us." "We've tracked the bounty hunter Lobo to your ship." "Hand him over at once." "Better yet, come and get him." "This is sweet." "Quench me, babe." "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" "Say "aloha," babe." "The docking bay's on the other side of the jungle." "We're home free." "Don't bet on it." "Move in, boys." "Without their powers, these wimps are dead meat." "Let's go get them." "Hey, Lobo, remember us?" "Friends of yours?" "My bridge club." "It's my brother, Gnaww." "He's come to rescue me." "In your dreams, Sqweek." "We followed your bike's ion trail." "It was stronger than your breath." "Hey, watch what you say about my bike." "We're no match for their weapons." "Tell me about it." "They're trying to surround us." "At least I'll go down fragging." "Wait." "I see something else. lt's...." "What?" "What?" "Get to the docking bay." "I'll hold them off here." "Your funeral, Clyde." "Now, what were you up to?" "Oh, I get it." "You were going to sic one of the Preserver's bloodthirsty beasts on us." "Well, maybe we'll let whatever's in there rip into you." "You don't want to do that." "Oh, yes we do." "Throw him in." "That's a bloodthirsty beast?" "Not quite." "It's a dodo from Earth." "Earth?" "The old hog never looked so good." "Yeah. I was hoping I'd get a piece of you before I left." "As much as I dislike taking a personal hand in this matter you leave me no other choice." "Return to your enclosure immediately." "Who's gonna make me?" "I'm gonna have to stop saying that." "How could I ever think trash like you was worth saving?" "I got a cute smile?" "Sqweek, old buddy, you're about to witness my good deed for this century." "You're gonna let me go?" "Funny." "Hey, Supes!" "Hang on!" "And that's how come I was so late getting back here, Spewgie." "I knew you'd never let me down, Lobo despite rumors to the contrary." "But what about Superman and the rest of those creatures?" "That's the weirdest part." "Me, I'd have let the critters drift, or maybe host a three-year barbecue." "Not old Supes." "Said he had a place all picked out for them." "I guess that boy's just a sucker for hard-luck cases." "[english]" "Look at that." "The only thing holding..." "...that dress up is faith." "Hey, come on." "Someone's coming!" "lt's Lex!" "She's with him!" "Great!" "Lex, over here." "It's the paparazzi wolves trying to get a scent of Lex's latest lady friend." "Not that I read the gossip columns or anything but I hear they're quite an item." "Maybe I should warn her about him." "No." "Who is she?" "The trendy fashion designer, L.L." "L.L.?" "Lana Lang?" "Lana!" "L.L., over here!" "Give us a smile." "What a couple." " Lana, are the jewels real?" "Everything is real, boys." "Lana." "Sorry, no more questions." "I am here to work." "What's Lana doing with Luthor?" "You know her?" "We used to date." "Get out." "ln high school." "She's certainly come up in the world." "From Smallville, I mean." "Lana!" "Marco, darling." "Save me some dessert." "Mr. Luthor." "Mr. Eelan." "Make me happy." "The buyers are definitely interested, but they insist on a demonstration." "Fine." "Arrange it." "Finished." "You look fabulous." "Now go out there and wow the crowd." "We like your dress." "Thank you." "And we'd like it now!" "Hey!" "What do you think you're doing?" "Put me down!" "Put me down!" "Lana?" "Let me go, you fashion-disabled Amazon!" "Keep your mouth shut, missy." "We got a room where you're gonna slip into something less expensive." "Look out!" "Maybe you ladies haven't heard about me." "Yeah, we heard." "You like to save people." "I imagine you hear this a lot, but, thanks." "Hold on." "Red, blue, yellow." "Primary, but it works in a superhero-ish kind of way." "Let me guess, Martha sewed it for you." "What?" "By the way, Clark, how are the folks?" "Lana!" "Over here, men." "Lana, are you all right?" "I'm fine, Lex, thanks to Superman." "You know, this is the first time I've been happy that alien showed up." "Me too." "l still don't see how you knew." "Oh, come on, Clark." "Just because I'm gorgeous doesn't mean I'm stupid." "I saw you do the amazing things in high school then Superman shows up in Metropolis the same time as you do." "How do you know when I showed up in Metropolis?" "I've been keeping track." "Root beer float?" "See?" "I didn't forget." "Lana, I've come to warn you." "About Lex. I know." "Everyone has." "Powerful men get those kinds of reputations." "And I like powerful men." "Lana, this is no joke." "That man Luthor was speaking with tonight he's a known arms dealer, responsible for the deaths of thousands of people." "And you think Lex is buying weapons through him?" "No." "Selling." "I think Luthor's got a stockpile he's trying to unload." "Well, you're wrong." "Besides, I know how to handle Lex." "I know how to handle most men, in fact." "It's only Clark Kent l've ever had any trouble pinning down." "For me, Lana, just be careful." "For you, Clark, anything." "I just want to know what Superman was doing in your apartment last night." "And I want to know what business you have spying on me." "Are you jealous?" "Let's just say I'm curious." "He wanted to be sure I was all right." "And to warn me about you." "He said you were a bad boy." "And what did you say?" "I said I liked bad boys." "Your 1 1:30's here, Mr. Luthor." "Show him in." "Business." "Well?" "The merchandise is ready to ship." "When the client agrees to the terms, the deal will go through." "I've arranged for a demonstration." "I think they'll be impressed." "Where?" "Down by the old Carter Mill, 1 :00." "I'm telling you, she heard everything." "I should take her for a nice little ride." "No!" "But she was listening." "Of course she was listening." "A woman like that is going to be curious about things, especially me." "Anyway, what does it matter?" "She couldn't possibly have understood what it meant." "Hello." "Clark, it's Lana." "You were right." "And the deal's going down today." "The rifle shoots a microwave beam, exciting electrons to their highest state." "Nothing's happening." "Wait." "I'm gonna like this gun." "I think it's deer season." "Sorry. lt's only open season on terrorists." "I should warn you, it's been done." "The terrorists are keeping their mouths shut." "But those weapons had Luthor written all over them." "I wish I knew where he was keeping them stockpiled." "Don't forget, you still have me." "Oh, no, I don't." "It's too dangerous." "But we make such a perfect team." "No." "I could be your trusty sidekick, your Dr. Watson, your Batgirl." "Definitely no." "l still have feelings for you, Clark." "I knew it the minute I saw you." "Don't pretend you didn't feel something." "Let me prove to you how good we could be together." "Lana, I don't" "I've seen enough." "I'm glad you could finally make time for me, Lana." "I was beginning to think you were trying to avoid me." "You're not getting rid of me, Lex." "I'm sticking to you like glue." "Then I'll see you tonight for dinner." "Mercy will pick you up at 7." "It's Eelan." "Yes?" "There's a problem." "I don't care." "I want you in Central City waiting." "The client expects the shipment to be ready tonight." "There'd better not be any surprise visitors this time." "Hello?" "Clark, I've been trying to reach you all day." "The reason you haven't been able to find the merchandise in Metropolis is it isn't in Metropolis." "It's in Central City." "Our friend has a factory there." "How do you know this?" "I overheard him." "Oh, Clark, this is how it could be forever." "Me ferreting out crooks, you catching them." "Lana, I told you I didn't want you spying on Lex anymore." "I wasn't." "I was sitting right next to him." "Lana." "That must be the limo." "Gotta run." "Remember, Central City is 500 miles away." "I suggest you schedule a flight." "Lana, wait!" "Sorry I'm late." "Where's Mercy?" "Sorry, no mercy tonight." "Just heard from Eelan." "Should I cancel your dinner reservations?" "Get out." "Get out!" "Let me go, you maniac!" "Help!" "Help!" "That won't do you any good, Ms. Lang." "Nobody's here." "The factory is automated because of the lead fumes." "There's so much lead residue on the walls, Superman couldn't see through them." "Even if he weren't in Central City." "You're right, Eelan. I couldn't see you, but my hearing's pretty good." "What are you doing here?" "I thought you'd be in Central City." "You overheard too much." "It was too easy." "I knew Central City had to be a setup, so I followed you." "Hurry." "You'll be safe in here." "He calls this safe?" "Yes!" "Help!" "Help!" "Clark!" "Clark!" "You're a mess." "Lana!" "Going somewhere?" "To Paris for the unveiling of the spring line. I think my strengths..." "...are in fashion, not crime-fighting." "Lana, you know I really care about you." "You're like" "Clark Kent, if you say I'm like a sister to you, I'm going back to Lex." "Sorry." "But I know you'll find that special person someday." "So will you." "You deserve it." "Someone quiet, understanding, patient." "Hey, Smallville." "Get your tail in here." "Perry's got an assignment for us." "Remember, if you ever change your mind about me, feel free to fly on up any time." "Kent!" "Coming." "[english]" "Mustard, no sauerkraut." ""Metropolis Gold Exchange"?" "Wonder if anyone's tried to rob it." "This place?" "You'd need a tank the size of Pittsburgh." "Good thing we were in the neighborhood." "Hold it right there!" "I want this area sealed off." "Dan, we should move these vehicles back, establish a perimeter." "There's no time." "Don't you just love this town?" "See you back at the ranch." "Hey!" "From my viewpoint, the Special Crimes Unit might as well save their ammo." "Wait a second." "I think the sides just evened up." "My tank!" "Look what he's doing to my tank." "Looks like Superman's turned the SCU into a cleanup crew." "That was pretty expensive machinery." "You think lntergang's behind this?" "All I can tell you now is that we're following every lead." "Whoever it is, you can bet my Aunt Patty's pension they'll be going down real soon." "Translation: you expect Superman to drop them in your lap like he always does." "What are you saying?" "l'm saying your highly-paid department can't seem to bust a jaywalker without old blue boy." "The SCU is always grateful for the help of any citizen of Metropolis including Superman." "Useless!" "Worthless!" "A joke!" "Careful, boss." "l keep telling you guys lntergang needs real armaments." "Weapons of mass destruction." "And all I get are toys." "What was that?" "Who are you?" "My name is Kanto, Mr. Mannheim." "I've been authorized to offer you some assistance." "By whom?" "Start talking." "Please, put away your so-called weapons." "I can assure you they're unnecessary." "I come bearing gifts." "That's tempered steel." "It's melting like cheap margarine." "Okay. I'm impressed, but I still don't get it." "Someone sent you here just to give us these things?" "including this. lt's called the Armature." "When activated, it forms two hands of raw energy hands which perfectly simulate the motions of the gloves." "The energy hands, of course, possess a greatly amplified strength." "Okay, I want them." "What's your boss want in return?" "Nothing, for now." "lt's my experience that nothing..." "...can get very expensive." "Consider this a free sample." "Your benefactor will explain everything at the proper time, a time of his choosing." "Good day." "Call the boys." "It's time for another job." "Then the guy disappears into thin air like bad gas." "Strange stuff's going on, Maggie." "I never seen anything like it." "You shouldn't have gone." "You could've been in terrible danger." "That's why I'm called Terrible Turpin." "I'm serious, kiddo, we got rules here, procedures." "I can't have you peeking over fences like a schoolboy." "Maybe you'd like it more if I could fly." "You're way out of line, Turpin." "All I know is the tank had Mannheim's mitts all over it." "This department's gonna collar that dog if I have to grab a leash and drag him myself." "Look sharp." "Here it comes." "All units, radio alarm received from the 4:20 money train." "Repeat." "Radio alarm received." "You coming?" "Or do you wanna wait for Superman?" "Coming through!" "Big train wreck." "Someone was on the tracks and right now I wish it was the guy who built this stupid elevator!" "Hey, Superman!" "Over here!" "Come and get it!" "They're working for Mannheim." "Let's get the SCU tanks and" "And what, knock down his walls?" "Oh, the judge'll love that." "We gotta hit while the money's hot." "We don't know what we're up against." "Dan, listen. I wanna bring Superman in on this, officially." "You're kidding!" "Mannheim is mine, Maggie." "My collar!" "Inspector, give it a rest." "All right." "You got your number-one man." "Good luck." "Inspector Turpin, I believe." "Amazingly, you employed our weaponry quite well." "My superior was pleased." "Pleased enough to tell us who he is?" "Pleased enough to give you this." "It emits a concentrated energy beam capable of destroying even the most invulnerable of targets." "is that a fact?" "Dan's a good soldier, Superman." "Tough as a bulldog but not quite as patient." "Think he'll come back?" "lf l had a dime for every time Dan Turpin threw in his badge, I'd make Lex Luthor look like a pauper." "Where the devil is he?" "You don't think he'd try something foolish?" "I'd count on it." "You know what having this gun means, Turpin?" "l can take it off your Christmas list?" "l'm gonna own this town." "I'm gonna own the world." "With toys like these, who can stop me?" "Hey, this thing's going nuts." "lt's an early-detection device." "What's it detect?" "Superman." "Well, here's our chance to give this little baby a workout." "Some grip, huh, Superman?" "Guess I don't know my own strength." "Superman!" "You gotta get out!" "Mannheim's got some new weapon." "Strangest thing I've ever seen." "I think that hurt." "You know what's really amazing?" "I'm not even firing at full power." "Get ready to eat it, Superman." "Get off me!" "Get off!" "Kanto!" "I'm just catching my breath." "Go get him." "Kanto!" "Wait." "You've gotta help me." "Give me something, some weapon." "You had your chance." "Not only is Mannheim out of business in Metropolis but we finally broke the back of lntergang once and for all." "We?" "Looks to me like Superman saved your skin again." "Other way around." "If it wasn't for Dan Turpin, I wouldn't be standing here tonight." "Thanks." "Anytime, pal." "So tell us, where's Mannheim?" "l think he's moved outside our jurisdiction." "Where in God's name are we?" "That depends." "Which god are you talking about?" "Listen, I'm through with these games." "I want some answers!" "You gonna tell me who you work for?" "Welcome to Apokolips, Mr. Mannheim." "Who are you?" "Your new lord and master." "You may call me Darkseid." "[english]" "Come on, answer." "I told you before, I'm not coming out." "What part of that didn't you understand?" "Earl, you've got to listen to reason." "I have listened to reason." "My own." "What'd he say?" "We're gonna have to do it your way." "All right." "Okay, move in." "For the love of Mike." "He's probably got the place reinforced." "Let's find out." "Right flank, advance." "Get him to the hospital, now." "It's just a little singe, Maggie." "Inspector Sawyer, Professor Hamilton." "Perfect timing." "The man inside's Earl Garver." "Used to work at STAR Labs." "Until he stole a radioactive isotope from us." "He sent this to the mayor today." "He says he used the isotope to make a bomb." "And he'll detonate it if we don't pay by tonight." "lt could take out a square mile of the city." "Let's see if I can change his mind." "Where's the bomb, Garver?" "Wherever it is, it's already ticking and concealed in lead." "So the real question is, where's my money?" "I don't play those games." "Did he say anything, doctor?" "It's a concussion." "He'll be unconscious for the next day or two." "The bomb goes off in four hours." "Even I couldn't search the city in that time." "If I might make a suggestion there's someone who might be able to tell us exactly where that bomb is." "I think I understand how you feel, Superman." "If it'd happened to me, I'd be leery too." "That's not it." "What you want to do could be more dangerous than a dozen bombs." "We'll take every possible precaution." "But right now, he's our only hope." "Why should I help you?" "You're the one who put me here." "Rudy, the whole city's in trouble." "Tell somebody who cares." "The bomb could blow up a huge area of Metropolis." "What if that includes Stryker's Island?" "What if it does?" "Think I'd miss this life of mine?" "These four stinking walls?" "You want me to go into his mind and find out where the bomb is." "No skin off my nose." "But I want something in return." "What's that?" "Something to help the time go faster." "And not a bunch of boring books, either." "I want cable, and the premium channels." "All set, Rudy?" "You bet." "Get that big screen warmed up for me." "Something's wrong." "Rudy, can you hear me?" "Did you find out where the bomb is?" "I know where it is, all right." "But you still have to pay." "Sounds like Garver." "Rudy?" "Sorry, Emil." "I've put Rudy on the back burner." "You're cooking with Earl now." "What's happening?" "The Parasite has somehow taken Garver's consciousness, not just his memories." "How?" "Garver's intellect, his ego his force of personality." "It all must have combined to" "What's it going to be?" "You're still stuck here, Garver." "You don't even know where you are." "If that bomb goes off, there's a good chance you'll go with it." "Both of you." "Come on, what're you waiting for?" "They got you." "Cooperate and they'll treat you real good." "You'll never get away, Garver." "The best-laid plans...." "He thought nobody would stumble across his bomb here." "There's the wreck." "Once you find the sucker, I can disarm it." "See anything?" "No, there's too much debris." "We'll have to go in." "Let's make this a short visit." "You're just wasting your time." "I mean, our time." "Perhaps if we work together, Rudy." "You know, double the will, double the strength?" "A partnership." "Wouldn't work. ln a couple of hours you'll be gone." "That's the way it is with the Parasite." "I can't keep what I take." "Don't be so short-sighted." "Suppose l could find a way for the Parasite to retain the power it takes, forever." "Yeah, what if pigs could fly?" "I'm serious. I can help you." "But you have to help me too." "Come on." "This could be your last chance for freedom and power." "But maybe you'd prefer your cable television?" "That's it, Rudy." "Guard." "Guard." "What's the matter?" "I feel so weak." "That's better." "It's not here." "He's playing games with us." "No, he's buying time." "We'd better get back." "What was--?" "They're gone." "Both of them." "My leg." "How's that feel?" "lt feels so strange." "Someone's got to help me." "I'm really hurting." "Twenty minutes left." "He'll call." "Yes?" "This isn't a game of chicken anymore." "I still want the money." "Fifty million in unsigned bearer bonds." "Understand?" "So far." "There's just one modification." "I want Superman to bring it to me and I want him to come alone." "Agreed?" "Agreed." "Very good, Superman." "Go to the old subway extension." "Enter by way of the north-side station." "I'll be waiting." "Welcome, Superman." "If you're trying to use your x-ray vision, you'll find the rock marbled with lead." "Now, go up the tracks and follow the Y to the right." "You'll find a pit." "It's the reason they stopped construction." "It's so deep, I doubt whether even you could see the bottom." "Now, if you look to your left you'll see an exit sign." "Deposit the bonds there, and proceed to the center of the chamber where you'll find my little toy." "Hit the following keys:" "Three, five, nine, one, then enter." "Did you really think I'd settle for money when I could have your power too?" "You see, I've already gotten some of it." "Only a first course." "Time for the entree." "The longer we do this, the weaker you'll get." "Then perhaps we should call an end to the stalemate?" "What are you doing?" "Two minutes." "That's all you've got." "Now come over here and hold out your hand like a good boy." "Shut it off." "You'll be killed too." "Will I?" "My real body is miles north of here resting peacefully in an ambulance." "Hear that, Rudy?" "He's willing to sacrifice you." "It'll never come to that." "He's already taken control of your body, Rudy." "What do you think he's going to do with your mind?" "You gonna crowd me out?" "is that where this is going?" "Rudy, you're a loser without me." "lt's this or the cell." "Some choice." "What are you--?" "Fight him, Rudy." "He's changed the code." "Rudy?" "Cat's got his tongue." "[english]" "People, we are in a war." "The stakes are high." "If we lose, that asteroid will hit Metropolis in a matter of hours." "Ten million lives will be wiped out instantly." "And they'll be the fortunate ones." "It's up to us to destroy it as we would any other enemy utterly and completely." "Any questions?" "No, sir." "Still think we need the alien?" "I'd feel a lot better." "Can't understand how he missed liftoff." "It's no loss." "The last thing this mission needs is your friend's grandstanding." "Sorry I'm late." "Earthquake in Albania." "We're just glad you could make it." "I'll get you the explosives." "We'll keep your team on standby." "There, that was easy enough." "I'm moving to the other side." "Just get the job done, hero." "And no showboating." "What do you have against him, Hardcastle?" "He's an alien." "He has no allegiance, no jurisdiction." "I don't trust what I can't control." "And I don't like what I can't trust." "Emil, you'd better get over here." "What's the problem?" "You have to see this for yourself." "My heavens." "There's no doubt about it." "The creature is warmer than the asteroid." "And listen to this." "Heartbeats?" "That's my guess." "There's also a transmitter within the rock." "It's broadcasting some kind of binary code." "l'll need time to decipher it." "You'll have all the time you want after the demolition." "Are you crazy?" "That's a living thing out there." "A living alien, and it would die when it hits the Earth's atmosphere, anyway." "ln good conscience, you can't" "Jeopardize the lives of millions?" "You're absolutely right." "Gentlemen, there may be another way." "I might be able to push the asteroid into Earth's orbit." "Yes, even if it was a decaying orbit, it would buy us some time." "That's not my mission." "I'm under orders to destroy that thing." "Superman, if you can alter the trajectory by five degrees...." "That's it, three degrees." "Three point two." "What is it?" "The creature's body temperature is rising." "Superman, it's coming to life." "What are you doing?" "Detonating the charges." "But Superman's out there." "Wasn't his party to begin with." "Emil, it's falling toward Metropolis." "I'm gonna try to divert it toward the ocean." "Oh, look, a shooting star." "Sonic boom?" "Earthquake?" "Maybe Perry had chili for lunch again." "Oh, my God." "I'm at 2400 fathoms, professor, about 1 00 miles northwest of Metropolis." "How's it going with that code?" "We're working on it." "Any sign of the creature?" "Well, as a matter of fact, there is." "And it looks like he's headed toward land." "This can't be right." "It's too big to be another sub or even a pod of whales." "Gotta be a misread." "Evasive maneuvers, now." "We're dead in the water." "Reactor room, full power." "Aye, aye." "All right now, full speed ahead." "Nothing." "Keep trying." "Captain, the reactor's cooling." "We're losing power." "It's holding." "Superman, we need you back at STAR Labs." "l'm kind of busy right now." "What's up?" "We've cracked the code." "The code was simpler than it seemed." "They wanted others to translate it." "They?" "The aliens who created that thing." "It's a synthetic being." "It was built for strength and given minimal intelligence." "They wanted to use it for heavy labor." "Obviously something went wrong." "Very. its fuel was supposed to be the heat from their suns." "But that was hardly enough for the creature." "Soon it began to absorb heat from everything." "And the more it absorbed, the stronger it got." "No wonder it didn't burn when it fell through the atmosphere." "The heat just made it stronger." "Exactly." "How do we stop it?" "You know those cold packs in first-aid kits?" "They work on the principle of mixing two chemicals that create instant cold." "Watch." "Will they work with seawater?" "We're too late." "The creature's come ashore." "Continue firing at will." "We've got him on the ropes, boys." "Hasn't moved since we engaged him." "It hasn't moved because it hasn't wanted to." "It soaks up the heat from the explosions." "Ready the NX missiles." "Didn't you hear me?" "You're feeding it." "Alien, I listened to you and that crackpot Hamilton once before and look where that got me." "This time, we're doing it my way." "Fire!" "NX gel, 1 0 times hotter than napalm." "We're gonna have us a down-home barbecue." "Better hold off on the marshmallows." "Hold your fire." "I repeat, hold your fire." "Yes, I can get the chemicals to the reservoir, but how do we get the creature there?" "I'll find a way." "But in the meantime, I need something." "I'll see what I can do." "Thank you, Hamilton." "That's it, Superman." "You're almost there." "No!" "Now!" "[english]"