star trek Atlantis (rough Drafts)

“Captain some-thing is approaching us off the starboard bow.”

Kirk stared at his Conn officer. “Not the most descriptive analysis Lieutenant.”

“Sir, this object, if these sensors are working, defies description.”

“Then put the object on screen and we'll see if the sensors are accurate.” Mr. Sulu adjusted some of the controls at his station and the enormous something or other appeared on the primary viewpoint. “I see why you were confused.” Kirk said under his breath.

Apparently the mass behind and to their left was literally a floating city with clearly Terran architecture. Skyscrapers as well and turrets were distinguishable in the present magnification. But was was most impressive, and puzzling was that there was no ground. The city did not float on an asteroid or any soil or landmass. As far as Kirk could tell, it literally floated on nothing.

Turning to his science officer he ordered a 'full scan and this range'. Which was an easily understood order for the Vulcan who had served under him for so many years. And carried out with nothing but an affirming nod and an eager expression. It wasn't often they came across something even Spock never considered possible. “Analysis Mr. Spock?”

“Very real captain and very...historically accurate.”

“Life-signs?”

“Our sensors are having trouble penetrating the structure captain however...we are being hailed.”

“On speakers.”

The speakers crackled and electric interference poured over the comms. It took a second for Kirk to realize the interference was from the other ship...not a problem with their systems. A moment later a broken, distorted voice was heard. “This is Colonel John Sheppard. If you can hear me, if you're out there...to any ship within range...request immediate assistance.”

“This is Captain James Kirk, ready to assist. Lower your shields to we may beam you aboard?”

“Captain, they shouldn't trouble you the state they're in. But yes...not for long.”
“Understood Colonel. Prepare for emergency beam out.”

A few minutes later 12 human beings materialized onboard the USS Enterprise. One of whom was a clearly military officer with a lot of energy and a lot of questions. Captain Kirk was in the infirmary to welcome him when he eventually did calm down.

“This is amazing, your arrival I mean. And more than a little straining to credulity.”

“I could say the same thing of you colonel. Identify yourself, and your team, please.”

“Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, United States Air force. Exactly what outfit I'm with? Would take a lot longer. How many made it?”

“We were only able to beam 12 of you aboard. There are others still in your city but...”

“They'll be alright; they're in stasis for a reason.” Noticing Kirk's look of shock Sheppard offered an explanation. “Four days ago there were 25 living souls on that ship...Atlantis as we call it. Everyone else was either free and clear, dead or in stasis. We did not lose a city full of people Captain. Or I would have an appropriately Macabre reaction.”

“United States...what year?”

“...2010. But that city, is not human workmanship...not from 21st century Earth anyway. They were our...they were an ANCINT race of humanoids who were so stuck up with such accomplishments...they didn't think their enemy was a threat...and died out centuries ago.”

“An incredibly scientifically advanced civilization.” Spock said from the doorway.

“Advanced yes...civilized...debatable.” A coarse voice said from another bio-bed. A man with more muscles than his tunic could conceal and a hairstyle almost as imposing as his attitude sat up.

“Ronnan, take it easy. I'm fairly certain we can trust these guys. They're not the Wraith.”

“Wraith, as in specters, spirits of the dead?”

“As in a biological race that grows whatever technology it has and sucks the life out of you, through a slit in their hands instead of their mouth.” Sheppard intoned. “Look up the less reliable reports of my time. You'll see what we mean.” He passed out a moment later.

“We all die at one time or another Colonel. And I for one would rather die today and have it mean

something than outlive all my friends and bemoan a wasted life.”

“Those were the last words I told Sumner before I put him in the puddle-jumper. Dr's Beckett and McKay were with him along with the remaining science personnel. I powered down the control tower and secured myself in the stasis chamber. Wasn't sure anyone would ever find us.” Major John Sheppard paused and looked at the faces around him. “How DID you all find us anyway?”

“A giant floating city that seemed of Earth origin, or at least Terran architecture, quite literally floating in space. It was hard to miss.”

“You're of an Earth fleet?” Sheppard said with a quizzical look.

“Yes...we DO have a lot to catch you up on.” The Captain said stolidly. My first officer would like to debrief you whenever you are ready. Until then I think you would like to read through our historical libraries...get oriented as it were.”

“Captain. You have yet to tell me who you are or what year this is, I do NOT want to be left so far in the dark while being told to 'catch myself up'.” The ship's captain arched his eyes and smiled in surprise at the Air Force major. “Near-warp relativity and light-speed transitory nonsense aside, that city, Atlantis was built by the Ancients. It's not much of a leap to say even their reserve batteries could last a few hundred years and I be none the wiser for it...being in a sleep without dreams and all.”

“You are familiar with the theories of faster than light travel and parallel planet development?” A calm, controlled voice spoke up for the first time ever.

And without looking up Sheppard replied. “They were considered nothing but science-fiction at home. All I know of those 'theories' as you call them come from television and film...a few novels along the same lines. Then I got clearance to hear about this outpost in Antarctica and the gateway to other worlds. Artificial wormholes, alien machines that created tunnels through space, including one to a whole other galaxy. My expedition was sent to the Pegasuses galaxy to search for these 'ancients' and their 'lost city'. We found the city itself, reasonably calling it 'Atlantis'. We hadn't been there 3 days when it launched itself into space again to avoid an attack by these ancients enemies...a species called the wraith.”

“But there were no ancients to operate the city. Complete automation?”

“It wasn't exactly well cared for as a city. Almost everything was powered down. But external sensors sensed danger and acted accordingly...according to its own programming. Now if you wouldn't mind answering my original question?” Major Sheppard said with no small amount of edge to his voice.

“By your calendar it would be May 15th 2279.” The calm, cool voice from before answered. “And we are on the outer fringes of the milky way galaxy. It seems these Ancients had programmed Atlantis to return home if their new world was threatened.”

“That would make sense I guess.” Sheppard acceded. “Listen there was one other stasis field operational when I went under. Our team leader Doctor Weir appointed herself a 'lifeboat' in case we were ever found. She said wanted to be a time capsule rather than a living witness...more for the sake of 'here's who we were and what things were like' than any record about what had happened. Is she awake?”

“Her stasis field is functioning. We weren't sure how to safely revive her, or even if we could...”

“Well, how'd you revive me then?” Uncomfortable looks were shared in all directions. “You didn't, did you? I woke up when you beamed yourselves to Atlantis but...” Major John Sheppard jumped from his medical bed, grabbed his belt and left the infirmary without another word. Captain James T Kirk and Commander Spock followed a step behind. The latter regarding him with a kind of suspicious fascination. The major seemed to know exactly where he was going, how to get back to the stasis chamber from the city's infirmary. He must have memorized enough of the schematics in the short time he'd been aboard. He realized the explanation in a moment. 'They'd only been in the city a few days before it launched itself into space. They could have floated through space in Atlantis for weeks before evacuating.

Two Revelations in One Year

SUPERMAN SEASON 3 IS RIDICUKLOUSLY LOPSIDED

 

I don't like the third episode "In cold Blood" because Lana actually slaps her daughter. The very next episode, Too Close to Home is full of dramatic conflict, but a more tolerable and 'working through things' kind and is very well done. It's a core episode, one of those required in order to proceed and it's actually a pretty masterful episode. But contrary to what you might think the conflict doesn't stem from what happened in the previous episode. The entire episode  more on John Henry and his daughter, as well as his sister...or this Earth's version of his sister as well as his now dead doppelganger.

We see throughout that Bruno Manheim is taking people, criminals on death row who've gotten compassionate releases for terminal illnesses and giving them powers with some serum or cure. It turns out the compassionate releases are genuine, these people were dying and he is actually trying to save thier lives...giving them a serum to make them stronger/giving them powers. The problem course is they have to keep taking the serum. The reason the now super-powered criminals are 'dead' in DoD custody isn't because Bruno will come after them for being traitors or narcs but without the serum thier actual terminal illness will kill them. And contrary to Clark and Lois' journalistic intuition, initial conclusion, that's not a trap or a caveat Bruno set these criminals up with.  Lois begins to suspect that perfecting the cure really is what's important to him. Even more than giving people powers, he wants to cure people and save lives. He's a protector of 'his people' in South Metropolis which was once called Suicide Slums.

Episode 5 called Head On is boring as hell, I don't even remember what happens in it except there's a school dance and John's daughter Natalie has a new boyfriend who takes her to it. She is not comfortable or 'natural' is such social situations. And it becomes painfully clear, painful to her at least, how un-normal she was raised and how she stands out. My junior prom was the same way. But I can see how this mediocre episode can fuel the argument/feeling so many people have that this show has become a boring family drama. It was a filler episode and should not be treated as anything else.
Episode 6 and 7 are full of character development and are reasonably well-driven I mean well written, well acted, good pacing and all of that. At the end of 7 called Forever and Always Clark interviews Bruno Manheim who briefly lets his shield drop. His emotions and true motivation shine through. "Lois is dying of cancer. Are you really going to look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't do anything to save her? This is your wife we're talking about." And Clark recognizes "No I don't think it is. This is personal...to you. Someone you love is dying and that's why you're so obsessed with finding a cure."

Bruno was pretty obsessed and for Clark and Lois, unscrupulous in how far he went for this serum. Using one of his meta's to break into the DoD to steal a sample of Superman's blood. And then in the next episode to steal Bizzaro's body so they can use his blood to make and engineer the cure. Which one can guess will not work. The genius is, that it was actually set up masterfully and believably, long before hand why a cure from Bizzaro's blood would not work. It is established even before Bruno Manheim's name is mentioned that Bizzaro's world, the world with the red sun is actually on inverted physical laws compared to ours. He not only has flame breath and freeze vision, the opposite of our Superman, he is strengthened by Green Kryptonite and weakened by our Earth's yellow sun. He actually evolved under an inverted set of physical laws. Which is why the miracle cure Bruno created form his blood will not and does not work. A cure from Superman's blood ironically enough, probably would have.

Maligned Movies that are actually Masterpieces

I've been watching some detailed analysis of Batman V Superman. And then I went back to Everything Great about Man of Steel and I came to a conclusion.

This is not Superman yet. He is not only a newborn superhero but a lot of the things we know him as are still in his future. Most especially the final reason the film gets so much hate. When he ends Zod's life to save civilans Zod was about to incinerate with his heat vision. "Superman doesn't kill" being so firmly ingrained into our understanding of who Superman even is. Superman probably developed the 'no killing' rule he's known for BECAUSE of how heavily it weighed on him when he was forced to end Zod's life. Everyone complains that this is not the Superman we know. It's not supposed to be. This is how Clark Kent *becomes* the Superman we know and love. And it's a freaking masterpiece.

Everything Great About Man of Steel.

Everything Great about Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | EPIC Fight Scene! | ClipZone

This is one of the deepest scenes the movie. In any movie. And it's one of my favorites.

That it was Superman's humanity which stopped Batman. Seeing this 'evil alien' care more for a human life than his own life and not the silly name coincidence seemed self-evident to me.

As well as why Bruce's flashback having nothing to do with his 'Martha' but with him now being the one holding the gun. But even I didn't consider that Clark not only accepted 'Save Martha' as his dying breath, but was giving his final wishes to his murderer. 'After you kill me, at least do this for me'. Anything Superman said would have been heard through Superman's lips, not Clark's because as with any other version of the story Superman's armor as far as his secret identity is that people don't expect an alien to have a human life. So why would this evil god like alien Bruce sees when he looks at Superman have a human mother?

"How many Good guys are left how many stayed that way" not only spells his motivations out perfectly but also explains why he didn't go through with killing Superman later. He finally realized that Superman was a good guy. And that he probably should have been asking that question about himself, not the strange visitor from another planet. Also Superman said 'Martha' not 'mom' because Batman had made it abundantly clear he didn't care about Superman's parents. And since he obviously wasn't *being Clark Kent at the time, Batman would have heard 'Save Jor-el's wife' not "Save a human woman who is in danger".

Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice

I don't understand how blind people are

 4 out of 4 users found this review helpful.

The only convoluted parts of this movie are Lex Luthor's plan and why the world suddenly hates Superman. As far as Why Bruce is so relentlessly pursuing Superman and why 'Save Martha' actually pulls him back, they could not have set it up more clearly. And I realize a lot of Batman fans were disgusted/surprised at this version of Batman but they do explain his character perfectly: this is world weary, Robinless Joker beaten Batman who has almost given up on hope for the world. He spells out his motivations to Alfred "He has the power to wipe out the entire hyuman race and if we believe there is even a 1% chance that he is our enemy" He sees this alien as another freak in a costume. He even tells Superman while he's punching his face repeatedly "You were never a God, you were never even a man." Batman does not spare Superman because thier mother's share the same name. Batman didn't even know 'Martha' was Supes mother's name at first. But Superman asking Batman to save someone else was enough to make him pause and consider that this evil alien cares about people, cares about someone more than his own life. And then Lois comes in and tells him "It's his mother's name." And he realizes Superman has a human family, has a life, IS a good man I/he almost murdered. He finally realizes that "How many good guys are left, how many stayed that way" is a question he should have been asking about himself all along. It's a line straight out of Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Setting up both his mission and his attitude for the next movie.

This is not "Batman" anymore. This is not Superman *yet*. I'm wondering why it's so hard for people to stop, look at the film and realize this. Superman is a new born superhero. People call it unrealistic or something that neither hero reacts how they would in thier prime. Neither hero IS in thier prime. Supposedly Batman hates Superman for clear obvious reasons but that Superman has no reason to hate Batman? Clark Kent has a pretty clear reason for hating or at least mistrusting a vigilante who tramples on the law and civil liberties. People see this movie fail thier own expectations and in so doing, completely fail to see this movie in the context of this universe. Where honestly their expectations do not and should not apply.

Why You're WRONG About Batman v Superman - The Martha Controversy

This is not Batman anymore. This is not Superman...yet.

"Calling Superman a hypocrite is because you're coming in with all the expectations and action of Past Supermans. THIS version of Superman is actually completely justified in his critisism of Batman."

"You mom's name is Martha, my mom's name is Martha too. Did we jsut become best friends?"

-- No I just realized you are as human as they come. That you care about someone other than yourself and that if I had killed you I would have been letting *another* Martha die. So right now I'm going to work with you to stop the psychopath who's been pushing us to fight each-other and the first step to that is to Save Martha...like you asked with what you accepted as your dying breath.

People actually complain that Supes should have tried harder to explain. It's a criticism I anticipated the first time I watched the movie. And I was right that is one of the 3 BIG things people complain about as far as the main thrust of the movie. People are idiots. Superman did try to explain. He wasted 10 minutes of the fight trying to explain what was really going on to someone who wasn't having any of that. And this is not directly from this video but Batman does not spare Superman because thier mothers have the same name. He has spent 18 months obsessing over killing this alien who could destroy the Earth. Superman needed to be humanized before Bats could come to his senses. And when, with potentially his last breath he asks his *Killer* to save someone else. that's when the damn bell finally goes off in Batman's head that he was about to destroy a Good man. NOT an evil alien'.

YES thank you. Superman is not a hypocrite here. It's confusing how anyone could think that. I watched Chris Reeve Superman for the first time after seeing this film and I thought he was more of a vigilante then. Supposedly Batman hates Superman for clear obvious reasons but that Superman has no reason to hate Batman. Clark Kent has a pretty clear reason for hating or at least mistrusting a vigilante who tramples on the law and civil liberties. People see this movie fail thier own expectations and completely fail to see this movie in the context of this universe. Where as you say (thank you again) their expectations do not and should not apply.

Most of the hate for this film comes from people sitting down with a set view of expectations and those expectations not being met. From Superman not being the man we know yet to Batman no longer being 'Batman'. Once the two heroes actually are thrown together Superman tries everything to get Batman to listen, and Batman just isn't having any of that. Until finally he pleads not for his own life but for the life of his mother. And he calls her 'Martha' not 'my mother' because Batman has already made it abundantly clear he doesn't care for Superman or his parents. It wouldn't help. Batman didn't know and didn't need to know Martha was Clark's mothers name. That this alien, even after everything cared more for a human than his own life is what woke him the hell up.

From Everything Great About Batman V Superman Author: I'm sure this won't stop this comment from constantly coming up, but the reason Superman says "Martha" and not "Mom" is because he wasn't currently being Clark Kent. He was Superman. As unbelievable as it may be for Bruce to not know Superman's secret identity, he didn't at that point. So he was still protecting his secret identity. I thought that was obvious. That's why I didn't mention it. And if I had to defend the reasoning behind Bruce not knowing Superman was Clark, why would he assume he'd need an alter ego? He sees him as an evil god alien, why would he ever pretend to be human?

Something of the Original

“Detective, how are you?” Harrison Wells said from the 'entryway' to STAR Labs.

“I'm alright, Dr. Wells, thank you. I was hoping I could enlist that huge science brain of yours to solve an annoyingly enigmatic case of mine, and catch a killer in the process.”

“Are you asking me because I'm a scientist or because I'm the biggest enigma you know?”

“Both actually. He is...one of the wild-world of weird cases we've been busy chasing down.”

“The reason you don't want Barry on the case taking down this particular bad guy with us?”

“The case is the murder of Nora Allen...Barry's mother.”

All calm and humor evaporated from Well's face. It actually took a few moments for him to speak again. “Why don't we get to the hands on science part of this building. We've some things we need to discuss, and hopefully to discover.”

Joe West wondered very much at this but he was not about to lose an opportunity to answer his many questions about the impossible killers, and messed up humans that had become part of his daily life... especially not if those answers were to come from the normally tight-lipped professor that led the team.

Wells led Detective West into the anteroom of the rather amazing STAR Labs facility and within an hour Joe West and Harrison Wells were consumed with analyzing the physical evidence from a murder that had brought Joe's family together. From the man who created the Particle Accelerator and the meta-human hero known as the Flash.

“Is it possible that someone with Barry's abilities killed his mother?” Joe asked bluntly.

“Now we reach the core.” Harrison said coyly. “You want to know if my particle Accelerator had anythign to do with creating this monster. Do I assume correctly you've had this notion in your head the entire time we've been talking?”

“I didn't believe Barry's story. For 14 years I thought Henry Allen was guilty, because I couldn't believe that sort of impossible even exists. But Barry does,stuff right out of the Twilight Zone is a weekly occurrence now. I have to consider the possibility it existed back then.”

“But my Particle Accelerator didn't.” Wells said pointedly. “Joe, someone or something impossible killed Nora Allen that night. He killed more than just Barry's family actually. And yes, my accelerator created the meta-humans we deal with on a daily basis. These freaks were my fault, I can't deny that; I haven't. But my work is not the only source of trouble for this city, and not every wild and weird story comes out of my experiments.” His voice took on a dangerous edge. “I'm fairly certain that monster had nothing to do with me, no one knew who I was yet.”

“The timing is more than a little suspicious don't you think?” Joe said is cold hard tone, openly challenging the genius who wormed his way into their lives without a word of his own origins. A challenge that was met with a steely glare.

“Ask the man in yellow for why he showed up when he did, outta the blue. He thinks for himself and changed the world overnight. Whatever the heck drew him here, why we've never even seen him since...” Harrison Wells took a physical step back. “The timing is less than coincidental. But if you're looking for explanations? I don't know the why...as for the 'how', I'm as much in the dark as you are.”

Detective Joe West stared at the normally unflappable man who had unraveled before him. There was not a lot that could rile a self-possessed professionally restrained man like Harrison Wells. It was one of the reasons he'd felt safe coming to the man with his suspicions, that he knew sounded like accusations. Somehow he had a feeling that it was something way more personal than Joe's rush to judgment that had animated him so completely.

“You've seen him too.” Detective West realized aloud.

“seventeen years ago. He's why I moved to Central City in the first place. The night I saw him is why STAR Labs became such a priority for me. What he took from me, is why it took 14 years to finish the job.” Sinking into a desk chair Wells put his hands over his face. When he looked back up, Joe was staring at him with an expression he'd never shown the man before: a look of compassion. “Joe, Barry doesn't know my story. He has enough on his heart, he's been through enough trying to catch up with this creep. I know him well. The fact that my masterpiece cause more suffering and more monsters is something I have to live with every day. But THIS monster, if he's the one pulling the strings, I want answers as badly as you do. But I don't have them Joe. To summarize my entire attitude and answer: If your chasing the man in Yellow, you cannot find a stronger ally than me. If you want answers about MY life story, look up Tess Morgan. More specifically, look up where she was December 21^st 2002. Then decide if I have a good enough reason for keeping my personal past to myself.”

When Detective Joe West walked into the Cortex at precisely 7:03 pm that evening, he looked like he wanted to bury his head in a bag of potatoes. He didn't sit down, only tapped on the door-frame to signify his presence. Wells waved him in but did not verbally acknowledge his presence, until Joe placed a box of very expensive Irish Whiskey on the table.

“I take it you're not here to make more accusations.” Wells said briskly..

“Doctor Wells, I don't know what to say. I looked up Tess Morgan...I'm sorry I had no idea. When you mentioned adapting and evolving to a new life before...you weren't talking about after the accelerator exploded; you meant about losing her, your wife.” Wells sat back in his chair, motioning for Joe to take the seat beside him. “Something must have created this monster, and the accelerator created a lot of them. I'm not trying to make excuses I...I hope you understand why I squirrel-brained. Finding answers based on what little information I do have...it's in my job description, as a cop...”

“And finding answers to life's greatest mysteries is in mine...as a scientist.” Wells offered. “I understand the need to understand everything Joe. Detectives who follow leads and geniuses who need answers both have a tendency of getting obsessed. But this was personal for you. And however little emotion I show in my daily life...I do understand trying to keep your family safe.”

“What was she like?”

“Strong, brilliant, had the most musical laugh. We were married to the work as much as to each-other. Making a facility like STAR Labs was something we were planning, but we couldn't find a place to put down roots that wouldn't turn into a media-government circus if we ever got it up and running. That's why I made it my mission to bring STAR Labs to life. Three years later it became...well I found out that the accident wasn't accidental. Whoever the man in yellow is, he wanted me out of the way, and crashed our car. I survived...she didn't. That's when I decided to move here. A larger but otherwise unremarkable city seemed like the perfect place to build our dream...even if she couldn't see it.”

“You're chasing him to.” Joe said stoically.

“Ironically enough I think if I ever met him I owe him a thank you. If I hadn't moved here, I wouldn't have been around to help take care of Barry. I wouldn't have had Sisko and Caitlyn with me to help build the accelerator, I would never have had a team to help make that dream a reality...or two awesome friends to stand beside me when it fell down like a house of straw. Until the accelerator exploded Barry was the only person to believe in the impossible. And now because of my failed experiments, the world has a man in red to help deal with the crazy. Ultimately though, unless the man in yellow was messing with Tachyons there's no way he could have originated from my work, from something we...I...hadn't even built yet.”

“Okay...what's that look on your face?”

“Tachyons, little bits of time-travel THAT'S how he did it! I...Barry and I need to find this creep and kick his speedster ass. Failing that we need to train him, Barry I mean, to be the hero this city needs right now. Are you with me, Joe?”

“Taking down Metas who abuse their powers, helping innocent humans deal with getting them, that's what I signed on for. It's my job and my duty. Raising a hero like my son for people to look up to, making him fast enough to kick this creeps ass if we ever see him again? That's a bonus! I am totally in!”

“Barry is lucky to have you on his side Joe.”

“He's lucky to have you too.”

June 29^th 2017

“We did it...It's over.” Barry Allen sighed with relief.

“Not yet. You still need to end it.” Harrison Wells said from behind him. Barry turned around and saw the man he'd called his mentor standing beside him quiet and still, with his hands at his sides in a gesture of surrender. For a moment he didn't know what to think.

“What are you doing?”

Harrison actually seemed surprised at the question. “You said when this was over and the city was safe, you'd kill me. And I promised I wouldn't fight you. I wasn't lying when I said I cared about you Barry, and I know what I've done. If this is what you need...” To Barry's lasting shock Wells actually lowered himself to his knees. “Then finish it.”

“Why, why would I do this?”

“I'm pretty sure that would be stating the obvious and I don't think either of us need the reminder... That's not what you meant is it?”

Vibrating his right hand Barry Allen, a hero known as The Flash, approached his nemesis. “I want to hear you say it.” He said strongly and softly.

“I killed your mother and have done nothing to free your father. This may sound ironic, but I'm tried of running, of trying to forget or deny my past. For the past 3 years I've done what I could to make you better than the Rival and stronger than Zoom. After this you will be.”

“...You're wrong about that.” Barry said lowering his hand and his voice. “Killing you wouldn't make me better than zoom it would make me the same as him. Killing anyone in cold blood would make me as petty and self-absorbed as the Rival. I refuse to be either one. Get Up.”

Later Harrison Wells stood in the cortex, standing alone in front of Sisko Ramon, Caitlin Snow, Detective Joe West and young Eddie Thawne, his partner on the Central City police force. He didn't say anything more, just stood there as The Flash filled his friends in on what he'd learned, and what happened 17 years earlier. “There's one thing more I need to show you...then we can finally be out of each-other's lives. “Gideon, bring up file ninety-four-thirty-one Zed please.”

“Of course Doctor Wells.” A soft, feminine voice spoke from literally thin air. A film projector, or the screen for one appeared and pages of information scrolled down the 'page' two fast for anyone but Barry to read. “Download complete Doctor Wells, will there be anything else?”

“You get to fulfill your original purpose now Gideon, Barry Allen will need your help.” He pulled a thumb drive from the interface. “This is a future database, I discovered when we first laid the ground-work at Star Labs. It seems to deal primarily with a hero called the Flash and his two closest allies: The Arrow, and the former villain Frost. When I first found it, I started following the history it presented like a script, trying to make sure the world had these heroes. It's why I fast-tracked the Particle Accelerator, why it blew up in everyone's face, why I'm so convinced Killer Frost will one day just be a part of you Caitlin and...it's why I see such hatred in your eyes right now Barry. Seeing the man in the yellow suit kill you mother as a child...it's what inspired you to investigate the impossible and come a hero not a criminal like the other meta-humans when you got your powers. The world doesn't need another speedster, it needs the Flash, that's what Gideon told me. I didn't realize what she meant until I started working with you here. When you look at me and I looked away, it's not that I was afraid of my feelings, but because I was afraid of yours. Afraid of your anger, your scorn...and that I would lose any chance of calling you my friend.”

“Prism, Firestorm, Robin's Heir, Cicada, Pestilence...Is there any reason we haven't heard of any of those bad guys yet?” Sisko Ramon asked in his traditional lightly sarcastic voice.

“You're not there yet.” Harrison answered. “The record covers ten years of heroism and equality, we're only on year three. And firestorm's not a bad guy, just messed up, ironically another victim of my hubris.”

“One question Harrison: What have you been doing since then?” Joe said calmly.

“I stopped following the pages like a script and started seeing them more as guideposts and mile-markers. Until one of these creeps showed up I tried not to rely on it too much...dwell on it too much. From what I understand that ship might have belonged to The Reverse Flash...it's where I got the suit.” He waved his hand in front of himself, indicating the yellow suit he wore, very much made to speedster specifications.

“Okay time for the obvious question, who the hell were you talking to?!”

“Why don't you ask her, she's interactive you know?”

“Ma'am...Gideon did he call you?” Eddie said uncertainly. “Who are you?”

“I am Gideon, an interactive artificial consciousness.” The soft female voice that had sounded once before answered almost instantly. “Forgive the otherworldly effect of my disembodied voice, the visual circuits of my matrix were extremely damaged in the crash. Doctor Wells has done his best to repair me..”

“Just tell them your manufacturing origin Gideon.”

“I've never understood your reluctance Dr. Wells. You are a genius by the human standards of this time. In response to your prompt: Star Labs, research and development March 18th 2024.”

“You mean to say...seven years from now, Doctor wells invents you, here at Star Labs?”

“Incorrect Mr. Allen, You do.”

“In Gideon's original records I died tonight, supposedly helping you fight your newest 'big bad'. But I knew that was just the official story, a cover-up. I knew you'd killed me, for what I'd done to you. Anyway six years from now you discover something called the time vault and within it purely theoretical plans from an inter-active artificial consciousness that takes you less than a year to bring into reality you call her 'Gideon'. The ship I found had a copy of her program.”

“And you integrated her into the Star-Labs mainframe.” Caitlin said in a strange voice.

“I figured it would be helpful having a future computer around, help interpret and analyze any threats, meta human or otherwise we come across. You can do the same thing if you want. Now can we get down to it please...What happens to me?”

“We record your posthumous confession, get my dad out of prison, burn your house to the ground, make an official report that you were inside of it, that one of your experiments must have quite literally blown up in your face, you leave Central City and NE-VER come back.” Barry said as calmly and emphatically as if he were rewriting history by sheer force of will. Which is essentially what he was doing. “You were doing what you thought was needful, and didn't even delude yourself I to thinking it was justified. I don't know anyone else who could have done that. And I read the report, speed-reading comes in handy sometimes. In the history Gideon knows, presumably the version of events you first saw, Clariss revealed your secret in the middle of our battle and I killed you in blind rage. Are you going to stand here and deny that you told me your secret before hand to spare me from the regret and uncertainty a murder of blind rage would have left me with? I know you care about me Wells, or you wouldn't have bothered telling me half the things you've said tonight. So yeah, we get out of each-other's lives, like you said, but nothing else has to happen.”

A New take on Superman Defeated

This is essentially my story Superman Defeated but created and written anew, five times over when I am finished. The particular stanza this edition is based on -- sprang from out of otherwise nowhere -- will be found in the story. As with the other five stanzas once I write their stories.

Superman looked in stunned silence. Nikita was suspended in front of him, dangling over a vat of some phosphorus liquid. A man stood on the other side of, a control device in his hand. There was a look of unrestrained satisfaction on the bald man's face and yet there was also__ anticipation.

“Is this a game to you?” Superman said effusively.

“You should know I take my games deadly seriously Superman. And it is not just a game.”

“Okay let me take this another way, do you know what this will do to her?”

“You mean that she'll react to the sulfur/phosphorus as if it were a pot of boiling tar, yes of course.” A look seemed to pass over his face. “Why do you care?”

“She's done nothing to you and you use her as a pawn in your game? And you expect me to just be fine with this?”

“That's not what I mean. You would go out of your way to save a total stranger. That is perfectly to be expected. But why do you care so intensely for some random alien girl? I've had that reporter Lois Lane here in these exact same proverbial shoes and you didn't debase yourself like this. Why is she different?”

“Because beyond the people she's introduced me to in the last eight weeks, I have no clue about anything. I woke up fifty miles past nowhere and she was at my side. She's been lock step with me for two months.” Superman paused to take a second look at the situation. “I assumed you knew who she was. Or why abduct her? And you don't believe me do you?

“Did you really expect me to?”

“Sir, I realize I have no way to convince you of that. I don't know if I'd believe it either if our positions were reversed. What do you want from me?”

“Perhaps this will clarify things for you.” The man turned a dial and the claws which held Nikita by her shoulders lowered until her legs were submerged in the liquid. Nikita struggled weakly but it was obvious she was barely conscious.

“Wait please! Why are you doing this? Please at least tell me that?”

“You really don't want to know, Kryptonian.”

“Nikita says I'm a hero to your people. Lois says the only criminal...You're Lex Luthor.”

“Indeed I am.” The man said with a bow of his head. “And you really *don't remember do you. Well that will almost take the fun out of this. But not all of it.” A mechanism that resembled nothing so much as a pair of industrial pliers reached out to 'clasp' Nikita at the waist. A moment later the apparatus at her shoulders retreated.

Superman understood what was happening, though he could scarcely believe it.

“Sir please! I don't understand what's going on. But whatever happened between us, don't hold my arrogance against her. She is true innocence if such a thing exists on this planet. Whatever you want from me, you have it. Whatever I have to do to make this right I will do it. Just PLEASE stop hurting her.” Superman put his hand to his mouth and bit into his own palm. “You say I'm a monster. Well you haven't SAID that but you treat me like one. And so be it. I'm telling the truth, I don't know why you hate me. Min Gud I barely know who I am.” Superman flew over the rampart directly up to Lex, his demeanor anything but threatening. “Mr. Luthor, I appeal to the humanity I am certain you must have, whatever I did to you, or even if I did nothing, don't make her suffer for MY sins. Take your revenge upon me alone. There must be something that can penetrate my iron flesh. I'll happily submit.”

Lex Luthor raised an eyebrow. Superman steadily returned his gaze. “That's what you want from me isn't it? You want my surrender my...submission. You have it.”

“Short of using Kryptonite on you__nothing will. From what I understand, I get you around that stuff and a normal medical needle would penetrate your skin. It's also about 30 different kinds of painful for you.”
“Then why do you not...” Superman said, sincerely confused.

“It is not the most accessible substance in the world. Being from 7 galaxies away. and all that."

Superman pulled himself down to his knees but looked steadily at Lex. “I submit. I'll do whatever you want, I swear it. All I ask is that you let her go.” Superman clutched Lex's hand desperately. “Please Mr. Luthor, spare her, I Beg of you.”

"...Thank you Superman." Lex said almost congenially.