UNIVERSE BOWL VI: CHAPTER XI: THE SUPERIOR SKIES

             The U.S.S. Enterprise and Technodrome face one another, hovering in the skies above the Playoff Planet.  Aboard the Federation vessel, Charles Xavier sits in the Captain’s chair and looks to Superboy Doomsday.  Superboy Doomsday nods his head and presses a button on an access panel.  As the shaft opens, Superboy Doomsday grabs a piece of slow Kryptonite.

            “Are you sure Jessica?” asks Xavier.

            “My current powers are spectacular, but with the slow Kryptonite. . . I’ll be superior,” says Spider Woman.

            “As you wish,” states Xavier as he acknowledges the transformation which is about to transpire.

            Spider Woman holds the slow Kryptonite in her right hand and the Kryptonian powers are imbibed within Jessica Drew’s essence.  A newly enhanced Spider Woman joins her comrades, Ursa, Superboy Doomsday, Doomslayer and Steel Doomsday.  

            “We’re missing one,” growls Doomslayer.

            “Not anymore, we’re not,” says Xavier as Eradicator enters the bridge in silence.  Nova smiles at the sight of his team on the bridge.

            “Simply unstoppable,” the Nova Corpsman states.

            The spectacle of sheer power is broken as the Enterprise is barraged with the weaponry of the Technodrome’s missiles and lasers.

            “Evasive action!” demands Xavier.

            Drew quickly resumes her position at the console and her hands move across the board.  In response to her actions, the starship avoids a majority of the fearsome blasts. 

            “Launch torpedoes,” instructs Xavier.

            Vampire Jean Grey smiles as she presses the relevant buttons. 

            The torpedoes weave toward the Technodrome, rock the vessel and shatter two of its laser cannons. 

***

          
            “Phase two,” orders BL Thanos, “advance!”

            A door slides open on the Technodrome and the spirited Horsemen soar from the opening.

***

            “Anticipated,” states Xavier matter-of-factly.  “Commence positions!”

            The super beings, once in front of Professor X, race through the chamber’s doors and out of the vessel.

            “I have both posts Charles,” says Grey.

            “I know you do, Jean,” responds Xavier.

***

            Hovering above both of their respective ships, the foes smile at one another, in anticipation of an epic battle.  Eradicator, Spider Woman, Ursa, Doomslayer, Steel Doomsday, Superboy Doomsday and Nova float above the U.S.S. Enterprise while Flamebird, Krona, Superman, Scar and Kyle Rayner-Parallax hover above the Technodrome. 

            Nova instantly reacts to the sight of his enemy and flies toward Flamebird.  Flamebird smirks as she recognizes Nova as an opponent that is beneath her skills.  Nova circles Flamebird.  She laughs and reaches him in the blink of an eye. Taken off guard at Flamebird’s speed, Nova is slugged by his enemy.  Nova hurtles across the sky and finally manages to slow himself down.  He turns around and, using the remaining portion of the absorbed power of Flamebird’s punch, releases a gravimetric pulse beam at her.  Flamebird screams at the blast’s impact.  She turns around and is met by Spider Woman. 

            “I can get used to this,” Drew states about her new Kryptonian powers.  She punches Flamebird. 

            Flamebird skids across the clouds.  She recovers and glides at the Highness duo.  She focuses on Nova, who awaits her return to battle.  While Nova also focuses on Flamebird, in anticipation of another scrap, Krona flies directly behind the corpsman and unleashes his full power on him.  Nova is knocked unconscious due to the intensity of the blast and begins to fall.  Spider Woman races toward her teammate and catches him.  For Nova’s safety, she begins to carry him back to the Enterprise when she is met by Scar.  Scar lashes out at Spider Woman.  Spider Woman, stunned, drops Nova, who is ripped apart by an incoming Krona. 

            “Nova. . .” mutters a battered Spider Woman.   

 

           Drew turns around and discharges a venom blast at Scar, who is shot across the sky because of the concussive force of the eruption.  Drew then flies at Scar, anticipating a death blow being dealt by herself to the Oan.  Unfortunately, Drew does not reach Scar because she is intercepted by Krona.  Krona catches her by the hair and with his immense strength, rips her head from her body.  The headless Spider Woman follows Nova’s body to the ground below. 

“New powers. . .” says Krona, “same death.”

***

     
“A decisive blow has been dealt,” says BL Thanos to no one in particular in the Technodrome’s main cabin.

***

            “The best is yet to come,” says Xavier from the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

***

            Across the sky, Superman flies at Doomslayer.  The two begin an intense battle of not only superior strength, but of sheer will.  While the two warriors fight one another, Eradicator flies to the skirmish and uses his retained mind influence over the Kryptonian.

            “You are a lost soul Kal-El,” says Eradicator. “You are a being that has been sacrificed before in this league; a soul who has given his life. . .  and who shall do so again.”

            The Man of Steel attempts to break free from Eradicator’s persuasion.  As his mind begins to numb at the thoughts spawned in his head, Steel Doomsday flies behind Superman and presses a piece of red Kryptonite to his chest.  Superman attempts to shake off the effects of the rock, but is unable to do so.  He agonizes as he transforms into an ant headed humanoid. 

            Eradicator hears Professor X in his mind.

            “Well done, my friend,” states Professor X in Eradicator’s technological brain.  “Allow the Dooms to complete the task. . .”

The three Doomsday incarnations, in unison, converge on Superman, and the being also known as Clark Kent, is ravaged by the devastating blows of Steel Doomsday, Superboy Doomsday and Doomslayer. 

            “Once again, son of Krypton,” laughs Steel Doomsday, “your life is ours for the taking.”

***

            Black Lantern Thanos looks at his view screen as the tattered body of a dead Superman falls.  The Mad Titan, never shaken, has a stirring of dread through his body.