by Odins Eye
Table of Contents
Now the two brothers face each other as they often have done in the past. And they act out a scenario that is all too familiar to both of them. "What is it that causes you to lurk about our father's palace in the middle of the night, trickster? What evil are you planning this time?"
"My dear brother," responds the God of Evil, emerging from the shadows of the darkness. "Must you think ill of me all of the time? I merely come here to pay our 'father' a visit. After all, I am his son, too! Or is this something that you conveniently tend to forget?"
"Spare me, Loki. I have no patience for you or your lies this night." Looking towards the God of Evil, Thor continues, "I think it is best that you leave."
Loki smiles and laughs a low laugh. "Why is it that you do not trust me, Thor? It is because of my past transgressions against the realm, or is it because that the fates have foretold that on the day of the true Ragnarok, I will lead the forces of darkness against Asgard? If this is your reason, then you should know that I only journey down the path that the Norns have paved for me."
Thor returns Loki's smile. "Come, brother, let us walk outside together and you can tell me what destiny you think awaits you. Let us have a 'brotherly' chat."
Loki continues to smile and mockingly bows, "Of course, dear brother, I would be 'honored'."
Thor retorts, "Curse the day that Odin brought you into his castle and took you as his son. For in so doing, he unwittingly may have sealed the fate of Asgard."
To which Loki replies, "Perhaps."
The two brothers take leave of Odin's castle. Thor cannot help but notice that the stars in the heavens seem brighter than usual. He turns to address his brother but is interrupted by a female voice coming from the shadows.
"Thor!" Thor recognizes the voice of his beloved Sif. Both he and Loki turn to face the warrior goddess as she approaches them. Seeing that Thor is not alone does not surprise her, but she is taken aback slightly when she realizes that Thor's companion this night is "Loki!"
Again, Loki smiles and mockingly bows, "My lady!" Loki grabs for the hand of the fair Sif to kiss it but she quickly pulls away from his grasp. He stares at her and continues, "I see you are as ravishing as ever, fair lady, especially when your anger brings out your beauty even more -- such lovely raven black hair!" He laughs as his remark reminds her of his evil trick he pulled on her oh so long ago, a prank that cost her golden hair. But before she can respond, a rift in the space time continuum appears outside the palace of Odin. A temporal wave appears and engulfs the three Asgardians. As quickly as it appeared, the temporal wave disappears, taking Thor, Sif, and Loki along with it.
Jor-el looks at his wife. He never was good at keeping anything hidden from her. "No, Lara, the council doesn't believe me at all." She comes over to him and hugs from behind, her head resting on his shoulder. She just finished setting the baby down for the night minutes before he arrived home.
"Why would they not believe you, Jor-el? You never have lied to them before! They must be fools!"
Jor-el shakes his head. "No, they are not fools, Lara. If anything, they are extremely intelligent. But they are allowing their arrogance, no, make that their feeling of immortality, or perhaps, their refusal to believe that it is possible that Krypton will die in their lifetime, to get in the way of scientific truth."
"Then," she replies, "they are fools!" Jor-el just smiles. But their brief moment together suddenly is interrupted by another planetary quake. This one is much stronger than the ones that have occurred during the past year. The quake subsides after a few minutes, but the calm does not last. Within seconds, a mountain, visible from the balcony of their home although it is many miles away, suddenly explodes. Jor-el and Lara turn their heads towards the sound of the explosion; they gasp, as they cannot believe their eyes. "My God!" cries out Lara. "Where is the mountain?" The explosion is so devastating that the top of the mountain is blown miles into the sky. Fire, rocks, and lava spew from the mountain or what is left of it. More planetary quakes and volcanic eruptions rip Krypton.
Jor-el grabs his wife's hand and pulls her inside. "Get Kal-el and bring him down to the ship! Hurry, Krypton is about to explode!" She hesitates as fear overcomes her. "Go! Now!" he screams. Without further hesitation, Lara wraps the baby in special blankets that Jor-el had insisted she prepare for this day. She picks up the baby and rushes down too her husband's laboratory. She enters as he is finishing loading the information crystals into the ship.
Turning towards them, he says, "Everything is ready." He takes the baby from her and places him into the ship. Again he turns to his wife, "Are you ready?"
Lara replies, "I'm not going, Jor-el. My place is here with you."
Jor-el pulls away from the ship and starts to plead with her. "You must go, Lara. Your son...our son needs you!"
Lara bends down and kisses Kal-el's cheek. She gently caresses him one last time. She stands up and takes hold of the hatch and closes it. She says a silent good-bye to her son as she secures the hatch. "Our son will be fine, Jor-el." He knows that to argue with her would be fruitless. Perhaps he should not have told her of the world he had found for them to live on -- a world, smaller than Krypton and much younger. And based on differences in gravitational forces exerted by the respective planets and energies emitted by their respective suns, Jor-el theorized that those born on Krypton would have enhanced abilities on this new world. Based on his theories, Lara knows that their son would do more than just survive. He will thrive on this new world. And knowing that her son will be safe, Lara had decided before this day to stay with her husband. Until death do they part.
The ship carrying the infant, Kal-el, leaves the doomed world of Krypton and starts on its long journey to Earth. The world that is left behind erupts into a fireball as the core of Krypton explodes. And Krypton, once a lone blue planet that orbited a red giant, is transformed into cosmic dust and planetary debris. Seconds after the blue planet explodes, the giant red sun goes nova.
An Eastern Desert
Meanwhile, somewhere in a huge desert that exists beyond an ocean, two beings in an alien craft hover about the prone bodies of Loki and the lady Sif. These two beings are among the most vicious and evil entities that this world ever has known. One being, born of this Earth and human, is known as Lex Luthor, perhaps the greatest and most vile criminal mind in this world's history. Some might argue that the other entity, humanoid in appearance but having green skin, is a cyborg. Others claim that he is an android. But whether he is a cyborg or an android matters little. His genius is second to none; his ruthlessness is legendary. He is known as Brainiac. And it is because of these two that the son of Jor-el currently is secreted within his fortress of solitude, a fortress that is hidden somewhere in the arctic north.
"What do your readings show, Luthor?" Brainiac's voice is cold and without any emotion.
A slight pause, "Well my green skinned friend, if my readings are correct, we have stumbled upon beings of extraordinary power. But with regard as to who they are or where they have come from, I don't have the slightest clue. Let's bring them onboard."
"That is risky, is it not?" the cyborg coldly asks.
"Call it instinct, my friend. But I do not think so. Besides, I would like to use that energy transfer of yours to see if we can tap into their power."
"Superman is back?" blurts out a voice that belongs to the Planet's Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, Lois Lane, who rushes over to the television set to see her beloved man of steel in action. She catches herself before she makes a total fool of herself and calmly asks, "Anyone hurt, Perry?"
As the newscast is ending, Perry flips the channels until he comes across another station carrying the story. "This is Ian Cross reporting. This was the scene as it occurred just minutes ago. Responding to the cries of many elderly people, who were trapped within what would have been a fiery grave, a costumed hero sporting a red cape and carrying some kind of hammer raised his arms to the skies. He raised his voice to the skies and it was if he commanded the rains and the wind for storm clouds suddenly appeared in otherwise clear skies, and along with howling winds, the rains came and drowned the fire. Except for a few people being shaken up a bit by all the commotion, no one was hurt."
Lois turns away from the television. "That's not Superman! He still hasn't returned!" Tears swell in her eyes.
Perry, not noticing the tears, yells out, "People, find out who this new hero is. Maybe he has something to do with Superman's disappearance!" Turning to Lois, Perry seeing the tears, lowers his voice and asks, "Are you okay, Lois? She nods, trying to hide both her embarrassment and her feelings. Perry continues, "Do you have any idea where Clark is staying?"
She shakes her head, "No, Perry, I don't. The last I heard from him was a few days ago. He just left a message saying that something important had come up and that he'd be away for a few days. I haven't heard from him since."
"Well, try to find him. I sense that this is a big story and I want the two of you on it! Ask Olsen, perhaps he knows where Clark can be found."
Suddenly, the television again captures their attention. "My name is Thor. I am seeking the one that your world calls Superman. I have urgent business with him!"
"Where are you from and why do you want to find Superman?" asks an unidentified news reporter.
"I am from a place that somehow does not seem to exist in your universe. What I want with Superman should not concern you, mortal," replies the God of Thunder. Thor turns and steps away from the cameras. Before he leaves, he again faces the cameras and says, "Tell the one you call Superman that Thor, God of Thunder and son of Odin, is seeking him." Turning away from the cameras one final time, Thor muses, how in so many ways, this world reminds me of Midgard. It even bears the same name that the mortals in his universe have bestowed upon it, Earth. But this is not Midgard. And there is no trace of Asgard or the nine worlds in this universe.
Ensuring that he is clear of the crowd, he readies Mjolnir to take to the sky when suddenly he hears a young voice crying. He looks over towards an alley and sees young lass being pushed around by several older kids. Thor, not caring that his actions are being watched, strides over towards the alley. The older kids, seeing the God of Thunder approaching, run away. Thor picks up the young child, "You are safe, young one. Where is your mother?" The child, awestruck at the site of the God of Thunder, points to a nearby deli. Thor, carrying the child, walks into the store.
A woman, standing at the counter, looks up and cries out, "Jenny! Oh my God! What happened?"
"Rest easy, Milady," Thor replies in a calm voice. "The child is safe. She was in the alley next to this place and some bullies accosted her. But she is not harmed."
"Then I should thank you, Mister… "
"My name is Thor."
And the youngster blurts out, "Mommy, he is some kind of god!"
"What?!?"
"I will leave you now," responds Thor.
"Mommy, he is looking for Superman." Then tears form in the child's eyes. "Mr. Thor, you aren't going to hurt Superman, are you?"
Thor looks puzzled at first, then smiles. "No, young one. I need his help." The God of Thunder pats the child on her head and bids both her and her mother farewell.
He walks out of the store and just as he takes to the sky, hears the girl's mother call out, "Try the Daily Planet!"
During this time, the son of Odin, trying to make sense of what was happening, manages to serve the people of this world, thwarting several robberies and preventing several muggings. Just yesterday, he prevented a passenger jet from crashing into the ocean, thus prevented the deaths of many innocent people. And each time he performed a heroic deed, he would hear something like, "Hey, thanks Superman. Wait, you're not Superman!"
The first few times, he would respond, "No, I am not Superman. I am Thor, Son of Odin and God of Thunder."
And the usual reply was something like, "Yeah, right."
Now, he simply would respond, "No, I am not," and leave before a reply could be offered or questions asked. However, he is curious to find out more of this being that he is being mistaken for. Based on what he reads in the local papers, sees on television, and overhears in conversations, he learns that this Superman is some kind of superhero. His uniform is similar to that of Captain America, except for a red cape, that is similar to his own. And as he thinks of Captain America, Thor thinks of his other mortal friends and realizes that this world of mortals is more different from his own. But, somehow, he must find this Superman for perhaps he can help the Son of Odin find a way to return home.
The dumbfounded guard looks up at the God of Thunder. He points towards an elevator and mutters, his voice barely audible, "Perhaps Miss Lane or Mr. Kent can help you."
Thor, seeing that the man is frightened, places a hand on the man's shoulder, "Rest easy, mortal, the God of Thunder means you no harm." The guard's reaction is not unlike the others he has encountered over the last few days. Unlike the people of Midgard, the people of this world do not know him or for that matter, have ever heard of him. And this he finds strange and uneasy. "Upstairs you said?" again addressing the guard.
The guard nods, "Take elevator #3. Take it as far up as it will go. That is where you will find them. But, wait. Mr. Kent is not in. But, I'm sure Miss Lane is." Thor nods and strides over to the elevator.
Luthor, who has entered the room unnoticed, bellows in response, "Of course not. It is not our intention to... er... as you say, toy with you. We will answer whatever questions you wish to ask."
At the sound of his voice, all in the room cease their activity. "I seek the one called Miss Lane. For I am told that she may be able to tell me of Superman's whereabouts." Silence befalls the room as all eyes turn towards the God of Thunder.
Lois is about to respond to Thor, but Perry White touches her arm, signaling her not to say anything. Satisfied that his unspoken message is understood, Perry approaches the Thunder God. "According to the television reports, you call yourself Thor. You claim to be some sort of god, a Thunder God I believe you said. Before we tell you about Superman, why don't you tell us what it is that you want with him?"
Thor eyes the editor of the Planet warily as he responds, "Your news reports are right. I am who I say I am. I am Thor, prince of eternal Asgard, Son of Odin, and God Of Thunder. My reason for seeking the one you call Superman is simple. I have need of his help."
Lois, impetuous as ever, no longer can remain silent. "Why do you need his help... Thor?"
Thor's eyes fall upon the female who has spoken to him. "You must be Miss Lane. I am told that you may be able to help me find this Superman."
Lois smiles and nods, "Maybe I can, but first, you must answer our questions. Why do you need his help?"
Loki stares at Luthor and then turns his back on both of them. He gazes at the fair Sif, seeing that she is starting to regain consciousness. He turns again to face the two villains, "Luthor, you call yourself, while I would like to thank you for rescuing us, I cannot. For the fair lady and myself were not in any danger. Besides, I hear treachery and deceit in your voice. I can tell by looking at these machines that your scientific genius is without question. But your stated intent to help me and... this young lady as you called her... is wrought with lies. These machines are designed to monitor and measure one's life force and if I am not mistaken," Loki says as he touches the surface of one of the machines, "these machines are capable of tapping into or extracting one's life force. I think your real intentions are quite obvious."
Luthor gulps as beads of sweat appear on his brow. Brainiac remains motionless and without emotion. But it is Brainiac that speaks up. "What you are saying, Loki, is true. Luthor and I are mortal enemies of a being from another world -- A righteous do-gooder who calls himself Superman. We detected the awesome power that you possess and intended to tap into it and use it to rid this world and ourselves of our Kryptonian nemesis."
Loki smiles a wicked smile. "Perhaps, my new found friends, we can help each other."
Luthor interrupts, "What about the female?"
Loki just laughs, "Leave her where she is. She is neither friend nor foe. She is the beloved of my accursed half brother. Since she and I have appeared on your wretched planet, then I would expect that he is here as well. And rest assured, my friends, that the power of the God of Thunder is not to be trifled with." Loki walks over to where Sif is laying. He touches the chains and uses his magic to strengthen their hold on her. Then he calls forth arcane energies and sends her back into unconsciousness.
Lois, her reporter instincts sensing that perhaps Thor is willing to talk, asks, "Tell us of your world, Thor."
Thor turns away from the window and sees Perry is seated behind his desk. Lois is sitting on the edge of his conference table, that otherwise is covered with articles his reporters have written. Thor, knowing that he will have to provide some information in order to obtain some, relents. "I am the son of two worlds. I was born on Midgard, birthed by the earth goddess, Gaea. My father is Odin, king of Asgard, home of the gods and goddesses. I am prince of the realm and the God of Thunder. I command the power of the storm for I am the master of the lightning, the winds, and the rains."
"That was how you were able to extinguish the fire at the nursing home?" asks Lois. Thor nods.
Perry chimes in, "What is that hammer you carry at your side?"
Thor reaches down and places his hand on the enchanted mallet. "This is Mjolnir, a gift given to me by my father."
A few seconds of silence follows and Lois realizes that Thor is not going to say anything more about the hammer. "What are you doing here? And what do you want of Superman?"
Thor takes a deep breath and continues. "A few days back, I was walking outside of my father's palace with my half-brother, the evil Loki. The lady Sif joined us. Suddenly, the air around us exploded. The three of us became trapped within some kind of vortex. The next thing I remember is waking up in a park outside the city."
Again, Perry interrupts, "There are others besides yourself?"
Thor shrugs his shoulders. "I really do not know what has become of either of them. My plan is to return to Asgard and see if they still are there. If not, I will search for them. You have not heard of others like myself?"
Both Lois and Perry shake their heads no. Lois beckons Thor to continue. "For days I ventured through your city, amazed by the similarity between it and the one called New York back on Midgard. Anyway, every time I assisted those in trouble, they would start to call me Superman before they realized that I was not who they initially thought me to be. But I learned that this Superman is a powerful individual. It is my hope that his power combined with my own will open a portal or a rift that will allow me to return to my world and rejoin my beloved Sif. I have tried using my enchanted hammer to find Asgard in this universe, but for reasons I cannot explain, Asgard does not exist here."
Lois, convinced of Thor's sincerity, reveals the location of Superman's fortress of solitude. She explains, however, that the man of steel has disappeared for a few days following his confrontation with his two archenemies, the evil Brainiac and Lex Luthor. Thor smiles at the similarities between himself and this man of steel. Granted, their origins and powers are different, but their roles in their respective worlds as well as their respective adversaries are very similar.
"And what of the female?" asks Brainiac, in a cold and icy voice.
"Once Thor and Superman are disposed of, I will take her back with me. Without Thor, the fair Sif is but a helpless maiden."
Luthor looks at the warrior goddess's sword, "Helpless, you say? I would say that based on the power contained in this sword, and given the fact that she has the power to wield both the sword and its power, I don't think that I would call her helpless."
Loki laughs and retorts, "In the presence of Loki, mortal, she is helpless."
Sif slowly opens her eyes and the vision that greets her eyes makes her think that she is trapped within a nightmare. "Loki!" The sight of the God of Evil causes her senses to clear instantly. She tries to get up and realizes that chains secured to her wrists and ankles restrain her. She then feels secondary restraints across her thighs and her chest. "Damn you, Loki, release me!"
Loki gazes down at the warrior goddess. "I do not think so, fair Sif. For if I were to free you, then you would try to stop me or should I say, us." He steps aside and for the first time Sif sees two strangers standing behind the God of Evil. Loki continues, "You would try to stop us from ridding our respective worlds of unwholesome pests."
Sif retorts, "No chains forged by mortals can hold the warrior goddess of Asgard!" And she strains against the chains and suddenly becomes aware of the Asgardian magic flowing through them. "Why are doing this, Loki? And who are your wretched friends?"
Loki chastises the Asgardian goddess. "Show some respect to our gracious hosts, sweet Sif, for they have promised to help us seek passage back to our beloved Asgard. This is Lex Luthor, mortal genius whose heart is almost as evil as my own." Luthor steps forward and bows. Loki again continues, "And this gentleman with the green skin is called Brainiac, a ruthless killer-being who wishes to see this world's protector perish. And I have agreed to help them attain their wishes in return."
"What of Thor, Loki?"
"Ah yes, my dear half-brother. Well, it seems that he has been making quite a name for himself among the pitiful mortals of this world. From what we have learned, Thor seeks out the one these mortals call Superman. Thor realizes that he is trapped in a world different than our own, a world in which Asgard does not exist. However, for whatever reasons, he was separated from us and does not realize that we, too, are trapped here with him."
"When Thor learns that I am not in Asgard, Loki, he will return!"
"No, my dear Sif, no, he will not return. You see, Thor is not returning to our world. He will remain here, trapped forever in a dimension that knows no reality and is unscathed by the passage of time. And unknown to my hated half-brother, the one that he seeks help from will think that Thor is responsible for the death of his home world and the deaths of his parents. For I have seen the secrets contained in the crystal now in the possession of the one Thor seeks. And if all goes according to plan, either Thor and this Superman will be banished for all eternity and or they both will meet painful and agonizing deaths at each others' hands."
"Surely Odin will ... "
"Odin never will learn of this, Sif. For in this world, Odin does not exist. Perhaps, as a gesture of mercy, assuming Thor survives, I will allow you to spend an eternity in a lifeless limbo with my 'brother'. Should I take you with me back to Asgard, you will not remember a thing about what is transpiring here this day." Loki erupts into maniacal laughter.
Kal-el realizes the computer is referring to the file that the computer automatically stored prior to the intruder alarm going off. "Quickly, computer, recall the file and finish playing it!" Kal-el watches as the computer, responding to his voice command, reveals to him that his father discovered that Krypton's destruction did not occur naturally. Further, his father's records reveal that the object or being that is streaking towards the fortress is responsible for Krypton's destruction almost thirty years ago. Without warning, the infrastructure of the fortress is shaken as Thor crashes into the invisible force field. Kal-el looks up at the view screen and is stunned to see the being as identified by the computer still is conscious.
From outside the force field, a voice cries out, "If the one inside this force field is the one called Superman, I, Thor, God of Thunder and son of Odin, wish to have a word with you!"
Kal-el ignores the Thunder God and address the computer, "Computer, are you sure of his identity?" To which the computer responds, "Confirmed. According to Jor-el's records, the one who stands outside your walls is the one responsible for the destruction of Krypton and the deaths of your parents."
Kal-el thinks aloud to himself, somehow, this doesn't make sense. His identity fits the one who has been performing all those deeds in Metropolis over the last few days. The newscasts reported that he was looking for me, but they never said why. Perhaps he wishes to finish what he started all those years ago. No. How is it possible that one such as him is responsible for Krypton's death?
And the computer, responding to Kal-el's voice, displays Jor-el's file. Thus, does Kal-el learn from his father's records how this stranger caused the destruction of Krypton.
Suddenly, more alarms sound as the fortress again is shaken. Kal-el, anger growing in his heart, watches in amazement as this being brings what looks like an ancient Viking war hammer crashing down upon the force field. The air outside the fortress crackles and erupts with electrical discharge as the force field, created and powered with Kryptonian technology, shatters before the might of Mjolnir.
A voice from behind him startles the Man of Steel. "I would not take any unnecessary risks with this one, man of Krypton. For his power is legendary throughout the nine worlds as is his treachery!"
Kal-el whirls about and sees an image of a man, clad in green and yellow garb, sporting a style that he is not familiar with. "Who is he, stranger, and for that matter, who are you!"
The image replies, "My name is Loki, prince of a far away realm known as Asgard. The one who invades your fortress is my evil half-brother, Thor. The hammer he wields is one of the most powerful weapons ever created in my world. With it, he has slain my father and destroyed his kingdom. My brother's treachery is beyond comprehension. The lives of others are meaningless to him, as you have been told by your father's holographic image. I tried to stop him, but have failed. Perhaps, one of your stature, one of your power, can stop him."
Kal-el, the rage continuing to build within his heart, responds, "It sounds as if we have something in common, my friend. But tell me something, Loki, " as he tries to control his temper, "how is it that one so evil and treacherous as he, is capable of performing such heroic deeds as he recently has done in my adopted city of Metropolis?"
"A fair question, my friend. But it is nothing more than a ruse on his part to get you to lower your guard. In my world, prior to its destruction, he posed as a noble warrior, callously slaying those who actually were his allies and friends, those who were enemies of the realm of Asgard. And Asgard, convinced of his loyalty and of his goodness, abandoned all caution. Then suddenly, without warning and with untold savagery, he destroyed my world and murdered most of its people... including my father... just as he has murdered your parents. His treachery must end here!!"
Their conversation is interrupted by a brilliant flash of lightning. When the lightning subsides, standing before Kal-el and the image of Loki is Thor, God of Thunder. Thor, not noticing the God of Evil, addresses the Man of Steel, "I ask you to forgive my rude entrance into your abode, valiant one. But learning of your recent battle, I had reason to fear for your safety when you did not respond to my call. But now that I see that my concern is not warranted, I have need of your help."
"Do not be fooled by his humble greeting, my friend. This is how he greeted my people before slaying them in cold blood. Remember, if not for him, your world… your parents… they still would be alive today!"
"Loki!" Thor exclaims. "What are you doing here, brother? And where is Sif?"
"I am warning my friend here of your wickedness, my evil brother. The time has come for you to pay not only for the death of Asgard, but also for the death of this man's world and the deaths of his parents as well!"
"By my father's bristling beard, Loki, what is it that you are ranting about?"
But the Man of Steel, overcome by rage, answers Thor; he stuns the God of Thunder by bringing a super powered fist across the Thunder God's jaw. So powerful is the blow that Thor is knocked beyond the walls of the fortress of solitude. Kal-el's voice can be heard, "I have seen my father's records, murderous fiend. And according to my father, you are responsible for the destruction of Krypton, the deaths of her people... including my parents. For this, you shall pay!"
"Do not raise your voice to me, mortal! Fear not, for the God of Thunder will destroy your precious Man of Steel. I have held up my end of the bargain, mortal. I expect you to uphold yours!"
Thor looks up at his assailant and cries out, "Enough of your treachery and cowardice. I came to you seeking your help and I find you in the company of my evil half- brother. You blame me for the destruction of your planet but Thor is not a destroyer of worlds. You accuse me of murdering your parents, but Thor is not a murderer. You viciously attack me and continue to rain punches upon me, causing the God of Thunder to taste his own blood. But it is my own blood that renews me. And now, the one who this world calls Superman, will feel the wrath of Thor!" Thor smashes his fist into the temple of the Man of Steel, sending him hurtling into the fortress of solitude. Thor, still wobbly, picks up his enchanted hammer and uses Mjolnir to propel him into the sky in pursuit of the Man of Steel. The Man of Steel looks up as an enraged Thor brings Mjolnir crushing down upon Superman's jaw, causing blood to spew from his mouth. Thor follows this blow with a fist to Superman's chest. The sounds of air being forced from the Man of Steel's lungs and the cracking of his ribs can be heard. "You have wronged me, Superman. And now, I will right that wrong!" Thor slams Mjolnir into the ground causing the fortress of solitude to crumble to the icy surface. "You should know, Superman, that it is Thor, God of Thunder, master of the lightening and the storm, who stands before you. I am the Son of Odin and Prince of Eternal Asgard. I came to you hoping that you could help me to return to my own world. I thought, based upon what I had learned of you, that you were a man of honor. But, apparently, I was wrong." As Superman slowly rises to his feet, Thor buries Mjolnir into the Man of Steel's stomach, causing the Man of Steel to double over in pain. Thor follows with a left uppercut that propels the Man of Steel backwards several hundred feet.
Kal-el realizes that somehow he must separate his adversary from his hammer. He watches and waits as Thor approaches. And he hears Thor's voice, "You will pay dearly for your cowardly attack, Superman!"
Suddenly, the Man of Steel lashes out with his heat vision, striking Thor's hand that is holding Mjolnir. Thor yells out in pain as he drops his enchanted mallet. With a blast of his super breath, Superman entombs Thor's hammer in a block of unbreakable ice. Thor brings his fists down upon the ice causing the polar cap to shudder, but Mjolnir's icy tomb remains intact. And just as Thor turns to face the Man of Steel, Superman catches Thor off guard with a punch to the face. Quickly, the Man of Steel wraps his cape about Thor's head and neck, trying to cut off his breath. "Without your hammer, you are helpless, my murdering friend. Now, I shall end your murderous reign and avenge the deaths of my world and my parents!"
After a fairly lengthy search, Luthor lets out a triumphant cry. "Found it!"
After a few minutes, Loki's voice is heard, "Quickly now, set it up!" As Brainiac and Luthor rush to set up the machine, Loki gloats as he watches the heroes of two different worlds pummel each other in a fight that he has engineered. And who knows, if he and the others truly are lucky, perhaps both warriors will perish this day.
Blinded and suffocated by the Man of Steel's cape, there is little Thor can do except to absorb Superman's punches. Again, perhaps out of desperation, the God of Thunder blindly lashes out, grabbing hold of Superman's cape and ripping it away from him. Quickly, Thor removes the cape from his head and neck and barely manages to sidestep an onrushing Man of Steel.
As Superman misses with his lunge, Thor uses the Man of Steel's cape to return the favor, and wraps the cape around Superman's neck. "You see, Superman, my resolve is not secreted within my hammer, but within my heart. Even separated from my enchanted hammer, the power of Thor is second to none. And although you have proven yourself to be a mighty warrior, your reasons for fighting this battle are misplaced. I did not destroy your world. End this battle now and I will spare you the consequences of my anger."
The Man of Steel, sensing the God of Thunder easing up a bit, struggles to regain his fist. Again, he unleashes a blast of heat vision, this time into the eyes of Thor. And Kal-el declares, "Liar! Your mannerism is as your brother described it to me." Superman crashes his fist into Thor's face, propelling the God of Thunder into a nearby glacier. And as Thor smashes into the glacier, Richter scale earthquake readings in California go off scale. Huge chunks of ice collapse upon the God of Thunder. Again, Superman pursues his foe.
But this time, Thor is quick to recover and he throws the huge chunks of ice aside. He looks up and sees the son of Jor-el standing over him though his vision still is blurred. He feels a burning in his abdomen and realizes that the Man of Steel again has unleashed his deadly heat vision. Thor slams his fist into the ground beneath him, causing the ice to separate.
The Man of Steel, not expecting the ground below him to disappear, falls into the breach. Thor's vision continues to clear as he manages to regain his feet. Thor watches with angry eyes as the Man of Steel rises from the abyss. "I have offered you a truce that you turned down. I told a little girl that I was not going to harm you. But your actions have caused this to be untrue. I have tried to reason with you, telling you that your anger is misplaced. And still you attack. Now, you will feel the full power of the Prince of the Realm.
"To me, Mjolnir! Heed your master's call!" From several hundred yards away, the sound of cracking ice can be heard as Mjolnir struggles to free itself in response to Thor's command. Within seconds, Mjolnir's icy prison shatters and the enchanted hammer returns to the hand of Thor. Hammer in hand, the God of Thunder glares at Kal-el and declares, "I am Thor, God of Thunder, and master of the storm. Heed your master's call, oh storms, and bring forth the lightning!" With a deafening roar of thunder, the skies erupt and the Man of Steel is bathed with lightning. Superman screams out in agony as the lightning forces him to his knees.
Pointing Mjolnir at the Man of Steel, Thor cries out, "You are beaten, Superman. Again, I offer you a chance to end this senseless battle. Accept, and I will call off the lightning. Refuse, and feel the untamed rage of the God of Thunder!" But before Superman can reply, a mystic green bolt strikes the Man of Steel, again causing him to scream out in agony. Thor turns to where the bolt originated and sees that it is Loki who is responsible for the cowardly attack. But before Thor can retaliate, Loki launches another mystic bolt that strikes Thor in the chest. The force of the bolt causes the Thunder God to reel backwards. He swings his arms over his head trying to fend off the force of the blow and as he does so, he loses his hold on Mjolnir. The enchanted hammer comes to rest several yards from where the Thunder God stands.
Suddenly, both Thor and Superman are engulfed by a misty shroud. Instantly, the son of Odin and the son of Jor-el are floating in a timeless space, sans any corporeal reality. Kal-el recognizes the place at once and he cries out, "My God! No! Not this place!"
Their battle momentarily forgotten, Thor asks, "Where are we?"
Superman looks at the floating and distorted image of the God of Thunder, "We are trapped inside the Phantom Zone!"
Brainiac looks over and sees the hammer of Thor resting on the icy tundra. He walks over to it and bends down to pick it up. But the voice of Loki stops him. "Do not bother, my green skinned friend. None but my accursed brother and father can lift the enchanted hammer. And though you are machine in nature, your criminal persona would render you unworthy!"
Brainiac replies, "Really!" He grasps the handle of Mjolnir and despite his efforts, the hammer does not budge. "Hmm… Interesting weapon."
"Leave the hammer alone, Brainiac. Since only Thor can wield the hammer, it is safe to say that the hammer isn't going anywhere, says Luthor. "Come, let us return to the ship for we have a debt to pay to our friend here."
"Yes. It is a place created by my father to imprison the most devious criminals known to Krypton. So horrible and desolate is this place, it is said that those who are freed after serving their sentences are rehabilitated, for the memories of this place stay with them forever."
"So, how do we escape from this place?" asks Thor.
"We don't escape," replies the Man of Steel. "We are trapped here until someone frees us."
"And considering who is among those that have imprisoned us here, I would say there is little chance of that happening," says Thor.
"You saw who sent us here?" asks Kal-el.
"No, not exactly. But I do know that my brother attacked you with a mystical bolt of energy and then attacked me. The next thing I know, we are here."
"So I have been betrayed by your brother?"
"Betrayed? If you put your trust in the God of Evil or give credence to his truth, then yes, you were betrayed."
"Loki is a God of Evil?"
The image of Thor smiles, "I am not sure what Loki told you, Superman, but Loki one day is destined to bring about the twilight of the gods and the deaths of Asgard and the nine worlds. On that fateful day, all the gods and goddesses of Asgard, save for a select few, are destined to perish on that day. I am destined to die battling the monstrous Midgard serpent."
The distorted image of Superman stares as best he can at the floating image of Thor. "You don't sound like someone who is capable of destroying a world, much less murder anyone. And yet my father's records show that you somehow are responsible for upsetting Krypton's sun and therefore, bringing about the destruction of my world."
Thor replies, "I assure you, man of Krypton, that Thor is not a destroyer of worlds."
"Forgive me, Asgardian, if I don't totally believe you. For I have no reason not to believe my father's records."
"Then I can assume that should we find a way out of here, our battle will be rejoined?"
The Man of Steel responds, "Perhaps."
"More power!" yells Luthor. And the ship's engines scream even louder. Again, Mjolnir does not move. Instead, Brainiac's ship starts to lose altitude as it is drawn towards the hammer. "Damn it!" swears Luthor. "Cut the beam and open the hatch. We should be able to settle the ship over it. Then we can think of a way to bring it on board."
"Do not become obsessed with my brother's hammer," chides Loki. "Even if you succeed in bringing it on board, even if you succeed in tapping into its awesome power it is a power that will consume you. The hammer never was intended for the likes of you!"
Brainiac ignores the God of Evil and settles the ship such that the open hatch is on top of the hammer.
A short time later, the evil trio is standing in the ship's sick bay discussing the fate of the fair Sif. "Now that Thor and Superman are gone, what do you plan to do with the woman, Loki?" asks Luthor.
Sif opens her eyes at the sound of Thor's name. She sees the God of Evil gazing at her. However, there is no lust in his eyes, only contempt and hatred. "Hmm... I could send her to the Phantom Zone to spend the rest of eternity with her beloved Thor. That way, they both could suffer together in eternal damnation, in a reality void of Asgard, void of time, and void of substance... Or I could take her back to Asgard with me where she will suffer for all eternity knowing that she never will see her beloved Thor again."
"You could kill her," offers Brainiac, in his cold and emotionless voice. Loki smiles. He could learn to like these two, their minds are pure genius, their hearts pure evil.
"I could," he replies, "but then her suffering would come to an end."
"How do you propose to leave here, Thor?"
Thor does not answer but instead calls out, "Hear me, my enchanted hammer. Hear the call of your master, Mjolnir. Rip apart the barriers that separate this world from the world of which you are a part!"
"Damn my accursed brother. He is summoning Mjolnir, calling upon the hammer's ability to bridge dimensions."
"But the merging of two worlds, should the breach occur where the hammer lies, could destroy the ship!" declares Brainiac.
"Quickly, Loki, take us out of here!"
Suddenly, the ship shudders as Mjolnir opens a rift in the space-time continuum. The ship's engines are disabled. Stepping through the breach are two heroes of separate worlds.
"To me, Mjolnir, quickly!" commands the God of Thunder. Mjolnir returns to the hand of Thor. Again, calling upon the hammer's enchantment, Thor uses the power of Mjolnir to seal the breach.
"Our battle will have to wait," Thor says to Kal-el, "for I must find the fair Sif and stop my evil half brother."
Superman looks about him and recognizes the ship, although its lower insides have been ripped apart by the dimensional rift. "Brainiac and Luthor! If your brother truly is evil as you say and he has joined forces with Brainiac and Luthor, then I agree. Our battle must wait. For these heathens must be stopped!"
"Aughhhh!!!" cries out the Man of Steel, pain ripping through his body. "The ship has become a death trap!"
But Brainiac did not account for the God of Thunder. There are no defenses on the ship designed to stop an angry Thunder God. Loki, sensing that his brother would emerge triumphant realizes that his loyalties may have been misplaced. Quickly, he vanishes from the bridge and reappears in the sick bay next to the fair Sif. Just as quickly, he undoes her chains, removing the magic he imparted a short time ago. She is free, but before she can say a word, Loki speaks, "My ruse has worked, fair Sif. My beloved brother is here. Soon, we three will be able to return to Asgard. Hurry, Sif, we must join him!"
Sif grabs her sword and the two head toward the control bridge.
Meanwhile, Thor easily renders Luthor and Brainiac unconscious. But the deadly green rays continue to bombard the Man of Steel. Thor realizes that the rays are killing this Superman but he cannot turn them off.
"Hear me, Superman, take hold of my enchanted hammer as it flies by you. Mjolnir will take you from here to safety!" Thor hurls Mjolnir towards the Man of Steel. Superman grabs hold of Thor's enchanted hammer as it passes by and Mjolnir rips through the walls of the ship, carrying Superman to safety. The hammer stops approximately three hundred yards from the ship at which time the Man of Steel lets go of the hammer and falls to the ground. Mjolnir turns to return to the hand of Thor.
As Mjolnir reaches Thor, Loki and Sif appear on the Control Bridge. Sif runs into the Thunder God's arms, "My prince, you are safe."
Thor returns her embrace, "As are you, Milady." Thor glares at his brother, "You have much to answer for, evil one!"
Loki retorts, "This is how you show your gratitude, my ungrateful brother!"
"Do not say another word, Loki!" Turning to Sif, he asks, "Are you alright, Milady?" She answers with a nod. Thor continues, "Let us take leave of this ship. Loki, help your two friends to safety. Take them outside of this ship!"
"Safety?"
"Do it, brother. Though they are heartless and evil, they do not deserve to die!" Loki smiles and does what his brother asks of him.
Once everyone is outside the ship, Thor uses his enchanted hammer to destroy what is left of it. Calling upon the power of Mjolnir, Thor channels his godly energy and causes the ship to vaporize.
Hearing footsteps approaching from behind, the Thunder God whirls around and comes face to face with the Man of Steel. The two heroes glare at each other each pondering what to do next.
Finally, Thor breaks the silence, "Our battle is over, 'Superman'."
And the Man of Steel nods in agreement. "I will agree to end the battle because your actions have demonstrated your nobility and honor by saving the life of the one who would cause you harm. But I cannot call you my friend for you still are responsible for the destruction of my home world."
"Then so be it," says Thor, "though again I say to you, Thor did not destroy your world!"
Without warning, black clouds fill the skies, lightning flashes uncontrollably, and the roar of thunder echoes throughout the world. Before their eyes appears the face of Odin, filling the sky above them. "I have found you, my wayward children!" declares the voice of Odin. "It is time for the three of you to return home. You will forget all that has transpired here, retain no memories whatsoever."
The voice of Odin continues, "You who have accused my son of destroying your world and causing the deaths of your parents, I suggest you review the crystals given to you by your father more carefully. There is more that you need to know. Since memories of the past and future can result in unwarranted changes, you, too, son of Jor-el, shall forget all that has happened here. You are allowed two days to discover the full truth."
With a slight nod from the face of Odin, the three Asgardians along with the image of Odin disappear from this reality. All records and memories, save one, regarding Thor's appearance in this reality are erased. And the black clouds quickly disperse, the lightning and the thunder cease, and the yellow sun shines brightly in the clear blue sky.
"The temporal wave did appear and tear into our sun's core. Although the aging process of our sun was accelerated, the temporal wave actually delayed Krypton's ultimate destruction. Before the wave disappeared, it passed through the object causing it to explode in the vacuum of space, rendering it virtually harmless.
"It is the appearance of this temporal wave, Kal-el, that provided me with the time to build the ship that carried you to Earth. It is because of the appearance of this temporal wave, Kal-el, that you still are alive today and able to help the people on your adopted planet. Somehow, the actions of this red caped stranger unwittingly prolonged Krypton's life and provided Earth with a hero. In a strange way, we owe him much.
"Although I doubt that you ever will meet this stranger, share this with him if ever you do."
Jor-el's image fades away. Superman looks down at the crystal. Apparently, his father didn't have time to dispose of the other crystal properly. Somehow, the crystal survived the explosion of Krypton and managed to find its way to Earth. Luthor and Brainiac found the crystal and apparently with their scientific genius were able to tap into the crystal's secrets.
Looking towards the sky, the son of Jor-el calls out. "I do not know if you can hear me, Thor, but I know now that I indeed have wronged you. I would have been proud to call you my friend."
Somewhere, in a different reality, the son of Odin hears the voice of Superman. To which he replies, "Then so be, Superman. We part as friends."
Odin smiles as both heroes find a strange peace. And with the slightest of thoughts, the memories that the two heroes have of each other are erased forevermore.
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