Superman: Man of Tomorrow #38

John and I discuss how we can help him overcome his predicament and help him get back on his feet quite literally. He firmly believes that with refinement the devices he has been using already could become the ideal solution for this with the necessary improvements, namely comfort. I’m curious whether there is technology on board Mon-El’s ship that could be used to help improve these supports. Would certainly save John a potentially long and tedious process, I’ll need to ask him when I visit him later on tonight. In light of how he’s helped caused John’s paralysis I think this could help to ease any possible tensions between John and him.

 

Before I can think further on the matter though John points out the window as a searchlight quickly illuminates the neighboring building. It’s a block of office flats from what I can see, nothing special but it’s not what’s in the building that’s drawn all the attention. It’s the person stood on top of it standing over the edge looking as though she’s ready to jump.

 

“Oh my god she’s going to jump.”

 

I race to remove my clothes so I can try to stop her all the while I manage to listen in to a conversation she’s having on the telephone. It’s difficult to make out who she’s talking to, but judging from the voice on the end of the phone and how she’s talking I’d guess that it was her mother. Her mother is trying to talk her down clearly not wanting to lose her daughter as any mother would, I can hear her crying as she apologizes to her mother. She’s not planning on changing her mind. This blasted shirt, so many buttons I’ve got to hurry.

 

“They’ve said it’s probably terminal mom. I don’t want to put you and dad through this.”

 

“Just please stop! Don’t do this!”

 

I manage to get into my costume and race out of John’s office back up to the roof entrance of the building. Come on Clark you’ve got to do something before she makes that mistake.

 

“I love you two. Don’t ever think otherwise. That’s why I’ve got to do this.”

 

“Megan please…..!”

 

The voice coming from the phone falls silent as she lets go of her phone sending it plummeting to the ground. She’s about to jump Clark you’ve got to hurry up. I race out of the building and slowly fly over to her. The spotlight sees me and turns its attention to me causing the young woman to look at me. I choose a slow and cautious approach so she doesn’t accidentally jump out of shock. Fortunately she keeps her attention focused entirely on me so she doesn’t try to jump much to my own relief.

 

“Hello Megan.”

 

“You’re that Superman guy.”

 

“So I hear. Why are you all the way up here?”

 

I speak to her in soft and gentle tone to make her feel comfortable. Hopefully I can convince her to change her mind and not make the greatest mistake of her life.

 

“Because…”

 

“Because?”

 

“I’m dying.”

 

"What from?”

 

Playing dumb often helps to comfort people. She’s already freaked out by my appearance and by the sight of seeing me floating in the air, the increase in her heartbeat rate tells me that. Not knowing what’s going through her mind I choose to keep my other powers under wraps so she won’t turn me away.

 

“I found a lump……. two days ago…...”

 

“A lump?”

 

“Yeah…….”

 

“It’s not…”

 

“Yep.”

 

“What stage?”

 

“They wouldn’t say, but they think it’s terminal.”

 

“That’s why you’re up here isn't it?”

 

“Yeah. I don’t want to put those I care about through it all.”

 

“But you’re doing it now.”

 

She looks down at the ground as I say that. She knows that she’s putting those closest to her through and it’s what she wants to prevent. I slowly move toward her with my arms outstretched to show my intentions to help her. It works somewhat. She takes a step back from the ledge.

 

“I just……don’t want them to see me dying like that.”

 

“They don’t want you to take your life either.”

 

“I have no choice. At least this way they don’t have to see me suffer.”

 

She steps forward back on the ledge. Come on Clark you’re losing her.

 

“That sounds more like you don’t want to go through the suffering rather than wanting to spare your family the pain.”

 

“Would you?”

 

“No. I wouldn’t. But I wouldn’t want those closest to me to suffer either. They mean the world to me, and I know they mean the world to you as well.”

 

A tear drops down her left cheek, clearly something has resonated with her thank goodness. I take this moment to scan her body and check this cancerous lump. To my relief it appears to be benign. Thank goodness.

 

“You’re going to be alright Megan. You’re going to live a brilliant life. But only if you take two steps back.”

 

“How can you be so sure?”

 

“Because I know you’re going to beat this thing. I promise.”

 

“But what if I can’t? What if it is terminal?”

 

“You’re much stronger than you think your are. You will beat this.”

 

She looks down at the pavement for a moment before looking back up at me. I hold my hand out to her hoping that she’ll grab hold of it.

 

“Trust me.”

 

There is a long moment of silence and I begin to worry about what she’s going to do. To my relief though she grabs hold of my hand. I fly towards her and she wraps both her arms around me. I do the same as she squeezes me tightly. She didn’t want to jump. I knew it.

 

The spotlight remains focused on the pair of us as I hear applause from the crowd down at on the pavement. I did it. Oh my god I did it.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“No. Thank you.”

 

After two minutes with her arms wrapped around me she chooses to release her grip and looks out over Metropolis. The cityscape is lit up in a variety of lovely colors highlighting the beauty of this wonderful city. Megan appears entranced by the view.

 

“Is this what you see everyday?”

 

“Yes, and so much more.”

 

“It’s beautiful.”

 

“It sure is.”

 

“Thank you. For stopping me from making the biggest mistake of my life.”

 

I put my right arm over her right shoulder and she rests her head on my arm. As she rests her head on me I smile relieved with how things have turned out both tonight and in the two weeks since I first put on this cape.

 

“Anytime.”

 

It’s been a funny two weeks. I’ve met my uncle, Mon-El, and learnt who I am and where I came from. I’ve managed to get myself a job at Daily Planet and been on the front page twice in the space of a fortnight. I’ve made some wonderful friends like Lois and John and most important to me, I’ve been able to help so many people here in Metropolis. Ever since I first set my parents barn alight with my heat vision when I was four I’ve been afraid of who I am and what I can do. But today, stood here right now having stopped Megan from taking her own life I finally understand why I was sent here. Pa always said I was sent here for a reason, Mon claims I was sent here by my father to spare me from Krypton’s fate, but I like to think that it was for something else. As far as I’m concerned I was sent here to help those in need, and that’s exactly what I plan to do.

 

My name is Clark Kent. I’m a reporter for the Daily Planet newspaper. I’m also an alien from the planet Krypton, but you probably know me by a different name.

 

I’m Superman, and I’m here to help.

 

END OF VOLUME 1

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So after a stop start release schedule I finally finished the first volume of Superman much to my own relief. I felt this was the perfect way to end the first volume of my Superman story because it so perfectly defines Superman. He's an alien with godlike powers, but at his core he's human and I feel this scene is the perfect of example of it. He doesn't use his powers to save this woman's life. He uses his humanity, his most powerful weapon and I feel that's something that often gets overlooked by many.

 

Superman will return in Volume 2 'When Worlds Collide'.

Done