Ash Ketchum: Superman chapter 6

Note: Pokémon and all related characters and material are the property of the Pokémon Company and the intellectual property of Satoshi Tajri.

Superman and all related characters and material are the property of DC Comics and are the intellectual property of Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.

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-Ash/Kal-El/Superman: 15

-Misty: 15

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Krypton, 15 years ago

“My friends, I am not a man who is prone to wild, inaccurate statements. Therefore you must believe me when I say this planet is doomed!” A man dressed in white, glowing clothing the native clothing of Krypton beseeched a council of men and women. He had black hair, was fairly tall and well-built, average for Kryptonian. This is Jor-El, the father of Kal-El. “You cannot ignore these facts! It’s suicide. No, it’s worse, it’s genocide.”

“Jor-El, we do not reject the facts, just your conclusion.”

“The star we orbit right now will go into a supernova within 30 days or less! Because our orbit is so close to it, it will have disastrous consequences for the planet Krypton!” Replied Jor-El. The Council was sitting around a table with Jor-El at the front, explaining his findings. None of them were visibly impressed, since they felt that his theories were completely outlandish. “I say that we begin evacuation as soon as possible to prevent any loss of life.”

“Jor-El,” said one member. A woman, somewhat older than Jor-El. “I have looked over your data, and there is no proof whatsoever that Krypton is doomed.”

“Vand-Ah,” he replied. “You must have looked over it wrong.”

“I tell you Krypton is simply shifting its orbit,” replied Vand-Ah.

“Jor-El,” said one council member. “Be RESONABLE.”

“My friend,” he replied, “I have never been otherwise. This madness is yours.”

“This discussion is terminated!” Said another council member. “Jor-El, if you continue with this, and attempt to produce a climate of fear among the populace, we will prosecute you for insurrection.”

“You would accuse me of rebellion?” Jor-El replied. “has it become a crime to cherish life now? I do not intend to create fear and panic. I intend to save our planet’s populace by any means necessary. But I need cooperation from the Council.”

“But as we said before, this discussion was terminated. If you do not comply, you will be charged with insurrection and banished to the Phantom Zone, an eternal living Death; which you yourself discovered. Will you comply?”

Jor-El sighed and hung his head in sadness. He knew he had been beat. “I will remain silent. Neither I, nor my wife Lara will leave Krypton.” The Council members filed out of the room, leaving Jor-El alone inside. The Council members, thanks to their egotistical thoughts, felt that They had heard the last of Jor-El’s outlandish theory. But Jor-El had another plan, one that he felt would save Krypton.

--

Two weeks later, Jor-El was working on a device in his lab, which was part of his home. His lab had a view of the Kryptonian city, its buildings glistening in the red Kryptonian sun. Outside, the people went along their business, not knowing what was occurring off-world. The machines within Jor-El’s laboratory scurried about, doing their tasks as best they could in the time allotted. Jor-El, mean while, was busy placing several objects in the device. But it was not like a telescope. No, it was a spaceship. A ship built for only one person; his son, Kal-El. The ship was not like any seen on Earth, but a Kryptonian design. The ship could move many times faster than the speed of light, allowing the ship to reach its distant destination within a year. Faster-than-light travel is possible on a planet with a civilization and technology many years more advanced than that of Earth’s, and thus are able to get past Einstein’s theories.

“Jor-El,” came a feminine voice. Jor-El turned around to see who it was. It was his wife Lara, with whom he had conceived their son, Kal-El. “Is it ready yet?”

“Almost,” he responded with resignation in his voice. It was only Lara who believed his theory, and because they had to keep silent about Krypton’s fate, Jor-El worked on Kal-El’s ship for some time. “It will be ready soon. I just need to make a few adjustments to his course.” His course. Lara knew where he was heading.

“Why Earth?” She asked him. “They’re primitives, thousands of years behind us.”

“Their atmosphere will sustain him,” he replied. “And he will need that advantage to survive.”

“He will be different. He will defy their gravity.”

“He will appear as one of them, though. On the surface, we Kryptonians appear similar to Humans.” He replied.

“But he won’t be one of them, Jor-El.”

“No, his dense molecular structure will make him strong, and virtually invulnerable. He will be fast, have abilities far exceeding that of humans.”

“He will be isolated… alone.”

“No,” he replied. “He will not be alone. He will never be alone.” Jor-El finished placing several items in the ship. They were Krytonian data discs, which resemble Earth Compact Discs for a reason, as he had studied humans from afar for some time. Lara was saddened at the thought of losing their newborn Kal-El, but Jor-El had told her it was for the best that he leave. Jor-El put a plate on Kal-El’s ship, which was inscribed in their native language.

“What does it say?”

“It says, ‘This is Kal-El of Krypton, our infant son, our last hope. Please protect him and deliver him from evil. We will be with you, Kal-El, for all the days of your life’.” Lara choked up, her grief spilling over. “We must hurry. The star may explode at any moment now. Is he sedated?”

“He is fast asleep,” she replied. She held baby Kal-El in her arms, not even a month old. She had just begun to grow attached to her son, and any mother knows that parting with their young child is a sad experience no one should have to go through.

“Good. Place him in the capsule.”

--

“The energy output to Jor-El’s quarters is now in excess. We believe it may be due to a misuse of energy,” a policeman reported to the Council of Elders his report. None of them were pleased at Jor-El’s apparent activities.

“Investigate.”

“And if the investigation proves correct?”

“He knew the penalty he faced,” replied the head Councilman. “The law will be upheld!”

--

“But how do you know he will survive on Earth?” Asked Lara.

“I have been there myself and I have seen the people. Although they appear savage, they are a good people at heart. And their ability for good is why I’m sending him to Earth. He will be like a guiding light for them.”

“WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!” Came an alarm.

“What is it?” Asked Lara, now worried.

“Computer,” said Jor-El.’ What is it?”

“The police are coming! And we are detecting seismic activity across the planet! The sun is going into supernova! There isn’t much time!”

“Oh no,” said Lara.

“We must hurry. Quick, put him in the ship.” Lara did as she was told, placing Kal-El inside the ship. The couple gazed at their child for one last time. Then Jor-El spoke, saying, “You will travel far, my little Kal-El. But we will never leave you... even in the face of our death. The richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I've learned, everything I feel... all this, and more, I... I bequeath you, my son. You will carry me inside you, all the days of your life. You will make my strength your own, and see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine.” He caressed his son one last time before saying, “The son becomes the father, and the father the son. This is all I... all I can send you, Kal-El.” (A/N: This came from Superman: The Movie as spoken by the great Marlon Brando. I had to use it) As he finished, his voice broke slightly, but he finished anyway. Lara, on the other hand, broke down in tears, for she knew that this was the last time she would ever see him.

As the police approached, Jor-El moved to consul near the ship. Suddenly a violent quake shook the dwelling, casting fear over Lara. The planet was dying. Jor-El hurriedly press several buttons, and the ship’s engines fired. His task done, Jor-El walked over Lara and wrapped his arms around his beloved wife as the two watched Kal-El’s capsule blast into the Kryptonian sky.

Meanwhile, seismic activity on Krypton reached severe levels, finally convincing the Council that Jor-El was, indeed, right. But falling debris killed many of them. At the same time, out in space, Kal-El’s ship sped quickly, away from the doomed planet at the star began to go into supernova.

In Jor-El and Lara’s dwelling, the two watched the sky, one last time before they said their final words of farewell and love to each other. In one last moment, they kissed each other just as the shockwave of the supernova decimated Krypton. But Kal-El’s ship, which was racing faster than the speed of light, was already at a safe distance away to not be harmed by the supernova. Kal-El was safe. He would begin a new life on Earth as one Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town.

--

Earth, present day

Speaking of Ash, he was now waking up from his night of slumber. “Oh, man, what a nice dream!” He said to himself. No, it was not about Krypton’s destruction, but about him becoming the World’s Greatest Master. He looked over at Misty, the object of his affections, and thought about how she looked like an angel when she was a sleep. Of course, she could also be a devil when she was awake and a bit of a pain in the ass at times, but no matter. As he looked up in the sky, he saw a flock of Pidgey, and remembered when he first discovered his powers.

--

Pallet Town, 10 years ago

“Ash, don’t go too far, okay?” Said a 26-year-old Deila Ketchum to her young son, Ash.

“Okay, Mommy!” Delia shook her head in amazement. It had been only 4 years since she found her adopted son in a field near Pallet. Ash was an energetic young boy, which when her friends asked about, she said that it came from her side of the family. Of course, it didn’t come from her, but people bought it anyway. Little Ash was fascinated by Pokemon, and had been telling his adoptive mom that he intended to be a trainer, which she supported him in doing so.

As she watched Ash play, a flock of Pidgeys, Pidgeottos and Pidgeot flew into a nearby tree, as well as some Taillow and Swellow. Then, a gust of wind blew in from the north, bringing some pollen with it. Little Ash slowly began building up a sneeze.

“Ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… CHOO!!!” Ash let loose a powerful sneeze, with Delia not looking.

“Oh dear, bless… you…” Delia’s words slowed down as she saw what had happened with Ash’s sneeze. The whole tree was barren of leaves, and the bird Pokemon in the tree had no feathers at all, as though they had been plucked. And standing right in front of the tree was Ash, innocently smiling, completely oblivious of the effects of said sneeze. “Oh dear,” she said to herself, the words completely belying the thoughts in her head right now.

--

“Ash. Ash. ASH!!!” Misty’s very loud voice interrupted Ash’s thoughts on his childhood big time, bringing him out of his day dream.

“Jeez Misty, why’d ya have to yell so loud?”

“Because we’ve got to get moving soon. We have to reach the town where Brock is meeting us in two days.”

“Okay, okay,” he replied. Just then, they heard a low sound coming over the horizon.

“What’s that?” Asked Misty.

“I’m not sure,” replied Ash. “But it sounds like it’s getting closer.” The pair listened intently, trying to decipher what it was. Even Ash with his super-hearing, could not tell what it was. Then, Pikachu looked to the north and began to charge its cheeks. “What is it?” Asked Ash before he noticed where the sound was coming from and looked in that direction. A mecha suddenly burst out of the trees and into the clearing where they were. Misty held on to Togepi as tightly as she could before putting the baby Pokemon in her backpack. Ash simply stood firm with Pikachu by his side.

The mecha was human-shaped, and was colored black and white in varying spots. The two immediately knew it was a Team Rocket mecha thanks to the big red “R” on its chest. The robot stopped about 30 feet from them and stood silently for a few moments. Then it opened up and out stepped a pair wearing specialized Team Rocket uniforms. The male was taller than the female and seemed to be muscular in build, while the woman was more pixie-like.

“You there!” Said the man, pointing at Misty. “You have been seen with Superman! Where is he, answer us!”

“What are you talking about?” She replied. “I don’t know why you want me! I’ve never met him”

“Answer us!” Snapped the woman. “We at Team Rocket know you’re associated with him.” Misty’s face showed a look of surprise, fear and shock at the woman’s words.

“Who are you?” Ash shouted at them.

“We are Team Rocket special operatives,” replied the man. “My name is Clyde and my partner is named Bonnie. We are far more effective than those buffoons Jesse and James.”

Dammit, thought Ash. I knew shouldn’t have challenged Giovanni.

“He’s not here, if that’s what you’re looking for!” Said Misty.

“We know that, that’s why we’re trying to find him.” Replied Bonnie.

“Why, so you can kill him?” Shout Ash. “Even if she knew, then there’s no way she would tell you, you assholes!”

“Silence, boy!” Snapped Clyde. “I’m gonna make you pay for insulting us!” He pressed a button on a remote. The mecha began to move and grabbed Ash by the collar.

“ASH!!!”

“PIKAPI!!!”

“Let go of me, dammit!” Yelled Ash as he thrashed around in the mecha’s hand.

“My my, what bad language,” said Bonnie. “We’re going to have to teach you a lesson.” She pressed a button on her remote and the mecha went into a windup and threw Ash a considerable distance, leaving Misty alone with Bonnie and Clyde. Misty looked at the mecha with a look of terror on her face, knowing that she was in big trouble.

“Now then, about Superman…”

--

As Ash flew through the air, he kicked himself mentally for his mistake. But now that he was nowhere near the clearing where Misty was. Looks like this is a job… for Superman.

--

“Tell us now! Where is he!”

“I don’t know!” Misty shouted. “How am I supposed to know these things?”

“We’re getting tired of this, little girl, tell us now!” Said Clyde, who was threatening her with a weapon. Because of the nature of these threats, Misty was about as terrified as when she was a hostage in Team Rocket’s attempted heist, except she didn’t have a gun to her head this time.

“You will tell us,” said Clyde as he pressed a button on his remote. “Or we will silence you forever.” The mecha shifted its shape into a four-legged appearance. Its mouth opened, showing a cannon inside. Misty shook with immense fear that she was going to die, but then—

“HOLD IT!!!” Came a very powerful voice. All three people in the clearing looked around before seeing who it was.

“Superman!” said Misty with a joyous tone of voice and expression.

“It’s you!” Said Bonnie and Clyde in unison.

“Who’d you expect?” He replied. “It disgusts me that you’re threatening her like that. Have you no decency?”

“Shut up, you!” Snapped Clyde in a move that required cojones. “What’s your interest in her, anyway?”

“I will admit I have saved her before,” replied Superman. “But that’s about as all I can say.” Misty took his words in context, knowing that if he admitted to any relationship, there could be consequences.

“Never mind!” Said Bonnie. “We have to kill him now!”

“Oh, right!” Clyde pressed another button on the remote. The mecha moved, and aimed its cannon at Superman, who simply stayed in place. “FIRE!!!” The mecha fired its weapon at Superman, it resembled a Hyper Beam. Superman assumed a defensive position. The weapon did nothing to him, as expected.

“What!?” Said Bonnie. “But that’s impossible! Our best scientists developed our Super Beam for such an occasion!”

“You don’t know I’m invulnerable?” Said Superman. Bonnie and Clyde recoiled in fear after hearing Superman’s words. Apparently, they didn’t get the memo. “My turn.” Superman flew under the underbelly of the mecha at that moment. Bonnie and Clyde panicked and shifted the mecha to its bipedal mode and took a swing at Superman. It apparently worked, because for the first time, Superman flinched. Misty, who was watching this, reacted with shock, as did Superman. But remembering Jor-El’s words that he might have some difficulty, he recovered. He flew to the robot’s legs and lifted it up. He then flew up a few feet and began to swing it around a few times before finally tossing it like a hammer throw. He watched the mecha sail off into the distance, knowing that he had won this day.

“That was amazing!” Said Misty.

“It’s not a problem,” he replied. “I’m happy to help. Oh by the way, that’s two now. Don’t think I’m not keeping count.”

“Oh right,” she said in an embarrassed manner.”Um, will I see you… around?” I’m pathetic, she thought to herself. I’m acting like a—oh wait, technically I am of a schoolgirl age.

“As I said before, I’m always around,” he replied, and then took off. Misty watched him leave once again.

Just a short time later, Ash showed up. She ran over to him and said, “Ash, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied. “Not too much damage.”

“Oh, that’s good,” she said. “Are you badly injured?”

“No, Some trees broke my fall,” he replied.

“Okay than, as long as you’re okay, then we’ll be fine. Come on, let’s get going.”

“Hey Misty, wait up!” He replied, chasing after her. He was amazed at how well she recovered from such an experience, but he chalked it up to her tenaciousness and feisty nature. He picked up his backpack and followed her out of the clearing in the direction of the new city they were coming to, and the new adventures that awaited them.

--

To be continued

Reviews would be nice. I know I haven’t updated in so long, but I need some feedback.