Karp - Get Carried 003

A week had passed since he had recruited Toyman, and the improved laser gun did not disappoint. 

Holding the trigger down, Superman nodded along in contentment as the dummy at the firing range now exploded when struck, instead of ‘simply’ having a scorched chest area. 

“So? It's pretty fun, isn't it?” Toyman asked, waiting for approval. 

“It's pretty good. The lab is as good as yours.” Superman said in a satisfied tone. 

“Hahaha, I knew you'd like it.” Toyman laughed. 

Superman softly chuckled as he looked at the laser rifle. Built to look like a child's weapon or someone's idea of what a Martian weapon might look like, it would fit right in a PG movie, like Toy Story. However, the punch on this thing was no joke. 

“I read the schematics you submitted before showing up, impressive. The way you looped the gamma radiation emitter was quite ingenious. I had thought such a compression would result in an explosion for sure.” Superman honestly shared his praise, marveling at anything related to the advance of science. 

“Well, I did go through several prototypes, and thankfully had the notes of my predecessors. By the way, whatever did happen to that man, Edward Lytener? His file said he worked for LexCorp, and his ideas on light were inspiring.” Toyman was bashful at first, but then got curious. 

Superman nodded along. Although he had worked on the laser rifle, Toyman was correct. The bones for the project were actually all set up by a former LexCorp scientist. 

“Actually, you have something in common with Lytener. Both of you are smitten with Lois Lane to the point of obsession.” Superman said with a smirk. 

“I am not obsessed with her! She's simply a beautiful woman with a brilliant mind, and a person who fought against Luthor's evil.” Toyman petulantly replied. 

Superman rolled his eyes, and patted the short man on the back. “You'll get yourself a girlfriend one day. I can help act as your wingman if you want.” 

“Forget it. With tall, strong and handsome by my side, no girl would be interested in a freak like me.” Toyman moped in a depressed tone. 

“Hey. No kidnapping or forcing yourself on others, okay? Like I said, you've got a brain that to a certain degree, makes me jealous. You'll find yours. Now come along, let's go get us some lunch, there's someone I want you to meet.” Superman said, gesturing to the nearby hovercar. 

Taking a short ride to the roof of some skyscraper, they landed on a helipad, and were met by some guards dressed in suits. Following them into an elevator, they emerged on an upper floor that was a dedicated restaurant. Everyone present was dressed to impress, and the decor was somewhat modern chic with some old school French esthetic. 

“No, no. I don't belong here.” Toyman, feeling self conscious with his sweater-vest & kalki jeans look-not to mention the giant plastic mask/helmet he wore-was quick to turn around. 

“Relax. I'm wearing a cape and a giant S on my chest. Be confident in who you are.” Superman soothed, and pushed the shorter man towards a secluded table that had a good view of the city. 

Countless people whispered, pointed, and stared at them. Many people even took pictures. One person walked up for an autograph, but a security guard pushed him back. 

Turning around to address the people, Superman held out his hands placatingly. “I'll hang around after my meal for a few autographs. For now, please allow my friends and I to enjoy our lunch.” 

Guiding Toyman, they eventually reached their table where a well dressed man in a tuxedo was tugging uncomfortably at his collar. The tall, buff, bald, handsome black man saw Superman, and stood to shake his hand. 

“Superman, good to see you again. Listen, I'm real happy what you did, what with how you convinced Mr. Kent to up my pay, and put me in charge of my own division, but meeting at a place like this is a bit much, isn't it?” The man asked. 

Superman smiled, pretending not to hear his complaints. 

“Toyman, this is my friend, Steel.” Superman introduced. 

“Not this again. Please, call me John.” John said to Toyman, holding his hand out. 

Toyman returned a limp wristed handshake, much to the dismay of John. “John Henry Irons, I've heard about you from a few whispers in the lab. Curious, why does Superman call you Steel?” 

“Hahh, the Man of Steel keeps insisting I'm hero material. I just don't see it. I'm honored, truly, but I just want to work a 9 to 5 like anyone else, and provide for my family.” John said in an apologetic tone, and shrugged his shoulders. 

“Steel here is the foremost mind developing power armor. No one knows more than him.” Superman praised. 

At least for now. News of Tony Stark dying in the Middle East spread around the world nearly a month ago. The debut of Iron Man would surely occur soon. 

“That's right, I didn't have clearance to see the schematics, but I witnessed a test whilst at the firing range. Superman is right, Steel. You should join us in our reindeer games.” Toyman added on. 

John looked at that creepy smiling plastic mask, and the weird voice that came out of it, barely withholding a grimace. “Look. I appreciate the praise, trust me, I do. But I think you've got the hero thing well in hand, Supes. Besides, it looks like you've even got yourself a sidekick, good on you.” 

“Toyman is a teammate, someone I trust. The world is a big place, Steel. You'll find one day that to protect your family a steady paycheck won't be enough.” Superman said. “But I won't ask you anymore. You've been given permission to wield your prototype as you see fit. When duty calls, I know you'll make the right choice.” 

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. Anyyyway, I hope you didn't invite me to lunch to pitch that old idea again? Got anything new on the agenda? Or some cool tech to introduce?” John asked, quick to change the subject. 

“As a matter of fact, I have. Toyman here has just been granted a lab at KalTech, and I was hoping you two could work together. His methods are a little unorthodox, but the results speak for themselves. Check out the improvements to the laser rifle.” Superman said, then held out his phone to show Steel a before & after clip of the schematics + test results.

“Impressive. You did this? It's much more lethal than Lytener's design. But given time, I think he could've reached this level, perhaps even surpassed it.” John nodded along, then handed the phone back. 

“Funny you should mention him, Toyman said much the same.” Superman replied. 

“Think you could whisper in Mr. Kent's ear, and rehire him? Luthor canned him for revealing corporate secrets to that famous reporter, Lois Lane. Seeing as KalTech isn't as shady, it might be worth a shot?” John suggested. 

“Oh. I'm sure you'll see Lytener again in the near future.” Superman said with a meaningful smile. 

“A returning colleague to share the burden? I like the sound of that. How about you, Toyman, what are your interests? Based on the laser gun's design & secret identity, I take it you like toys?” John asked good naturedly. 

“Oh yes, Mr. Steel. I like playing games, and making new toys. Want to see one?” Toyman asked in an excited tone. 

“Sure, I don't see why not.” John shrugged. 

“If it explodes, spits fire or will break something we can do this demonstration somewhere else.” Superman cautioned. 

“You know me too well.” Toyman pouted, withdrawing his hand from his pocket. 

“Hold up, Supes, you're joking, right?” John asked, then looked at Toyman with a disbelieving smile. As if to say ‘you were really about to pull out something dangerous in a restaurant?!’ 

“...like I said, Toyman is quite unorthodox. He's a good sort, he just needs a little guidance.” Superman cautioned. 

“Ahem. Well. I look forward to seeing the results of your labor at the bomb range then, I'm sure it's impressive.” John said, quick to save face. 

After that, Superman led the conversation to talk about casual things like new inventions, gossip, and world events. 

“Have you heard about the Fantastic Four? Recently they had a run in with Magneto, and defeated him with a wooden gun.” Superman gossiped with a great deal of schadenfreude. 

“That old man who tried to kill the President 30 years ago, that mutant extremist is back again!?” John asked in concern. “Uh, no offense, Supes.” 

“A wooden gun, what a silly game.” Toyman added on, marveling at the idea. 

“Seems like it. A new hero group of mutants calling themselves the X-Men have debuted recently. Some giant purple robots called Sentinels have been destroyed near NYC by them when they tried to abduct a young mutant girl. And no offense taken, I prefer to think of myself as a metahuman rather than a mutant anyway.” Superman shrugged. 

“The Sentinel Program has finally borne fruit, huh? I remember back in the day they tried poaching me, but I just wasn't ready to leave Metropolis at the time.” John said, shaking his head. 

“Giant robots? I've always wanted to build one of my own.” Toyman muttered. 

“Mn, I've dabbled a bit in the area myself. I think, with the three of us working together, we could build a mecha just as good or better than these Sentinels.” Superman proposed. 

“There it is. This is why you really hosted this lunch, isn't it?” John leaned back, and accused good naturedly. 

“Guilty as charged.” Superman grinned back. “Besides that, I wanted to show off my new friend. But before we start talking science, let's eat~” 

Having ordered ahead of time, the food served was quite delicious. The following hour was spent discussing the finer details of robotics, weaponry, boosters, energy conversions, ratios, and all sorts of technical terms. 

Departing from his friends, and full of high spirits, Superman had one more thing to do before he returned home. Flying to the venue hosting the Excalibur Awards, he followed his knowledge of the plot of Superman the Animated Series, and using Kelex's spy network, to set up an ambush. When a man dressed as a construction worker in a bright yellow vest was pretending to set up cords & cables, Superman didn't recognize him. However, the facial recognition software did. 

“Target confirmed: Edward Lytener.” Kelex's voice chimed in the earpiece. 

Watching the guy subtly attach a small palm-sized device to the side of a wall, Superman knew that was his man. Lytener, after all, had revealed compromising info to Lois in an attempt to win her heart, but all he got was fired from his job, and freindzoned. Poor schmuck. If even turbo buff Clark Kent could get that treatment, what would some nerdy tech guy have to offer? As such, the man went full on lunatic as was typical of Lois's admirers, and the device he had just planted would cut a rope that would have a giant object fall on top of her, smooshing her dead. 

Now Superman could win some Lois Lane brownie points if he waited at just the right time, then swooped in to save her, but he really didn't want to have to do something so cliché. Therefore, it was better to stop this problem at the source. 

Floating down behind the guy who was making some last minute adjustments to his device, Superman lightly tapped him on the shoulder. 

The man was spooked, but like any decent villain, his reaction speed was pretty good. Whirling around, he already had a laser gun in hand, with his finger on the trigger. 

Of course, Lytener was a mortal, and no matter how good his reaction time, it was less than an ant's crawl speed to Superman. Already behind the super scientist's back, Superman reached around, and solidly gripped his wrists, then leaned in to whisper into the guy's ear. 

“Surely you've read the papers. The last punk to draw his gun on me like this is now permanently blind. I'd think very carefully before you do anything else.”

“S-Superman.” Lytener yelped. “You're here. But I did nothing, I-” 

“Don't pretend to be stupid, it's a waste of both our time.” Superman condescended, and pushed the man away, seizing the gun-and several other high-tech objects from his worker's uniform-at lightning speed. 

Lytener glanced at what was stolen, and had a grim look on his face before realization dawned on him. “You want my creations. Hmph. So much for a guardian of justice.” The super scientist was quick to condescend in return now that he knew he had value. 

“Losing your job because you simped over Lois Lane. I cannot fathom a more pathetic villain origin story.” Superman replied, crossing his arms. 

“She lied to me!” Lytener shouted. “Used and abused my heartstrings, and for what?! Some damned award?!” 

Watching the man breathe heavily, and take an enraged, agonizing step forward, Superman sighed in pity. He had simped once before back when he first entered college, and understood the futility of it. Sometimes the best medicine was to survive the poison. After all, one did not become immune from the snake's bite unless they experienced the bitter sting of venom first hand. 

“Lane is the type to go after Bruce Wayne, but even then, she'd chew him up, and spit him out. You dodged a bullet, Lytener. Killing her out of spite is not the way. If you truly want revenge, the best way is to prove your own self worth with your inventions.” Superman said, gesturing towards the knicknacks in his hand. 

“And what do you know?! The scientific community regards me with scorn. Not a single company will hire me after I became a whistleblower against LexCorp. I'm behind on rent, and my savings are gone. I have nothing left to live for except my revenge! Lois is not innocent, I know you were behind what happened to Luthor, to Manheim, you can do the same thing to her. Do that, and my inventions will always belong to you.” Lytener eagerly said. 

“Oh really? And what do you think about this?” Superman asked, and then revealed on his phone the lasergun Toyman had modified. 

“What?! Stealing my design, this is outrageous, this is unfair…but no, how did they account for the capacitor overload?” Lytener was outraged at first, but then became shocked. “Impossible, this should overheat, explode, and yet, it isn't.” 

“KalTech needs minds like yours, Lytener. The days of you worrying over finances are over. Perhaps there might even be a place for you on a grander stage. One where all of Metropolis cheers on your name. Where droves of women fall in love with the mysterious hero: Luminus.” Superman whispered, painting a grand picture of the future. 

“A job at KalTech? Then that means you really did do that to Luthor.” Lytener was somewhat shocked that his conjecture was true, but seemed even more so, excited. “Very well, I shall put aside this revenge for now. With my genius, billions are certain to roll in.” 

Superman regarded the tan-skinned, somewhat handsome man, barely stopping himself from rolling his eyes. Although Lytener was extremely arrogant, he had earned that right. Creating stealth generators that made one invisible, solid illusions, and a super suit that could fly & had durability + enhanced strength…he was something special. In some regards, he could be considered a peer of Mysterio. 

“Then let me be the first to welcome you to KalTech. Your first check has already been deposited into your bank account.” Superman said, shaking Lytener's hand. 

With this addition, he was one step closer to obtaining the utopia he so desired. Before long, the city of Metropolis would become the model for Earth's future.