Chapter 23
Some days later Superman summoned Supergirl and Superboy to
the fortress of solitude. "Take off your boots," he
instructed, "and put these new ones on. They've got
something special in the heels...kryptonite! They're shielded so
the radiation is only emitted behind you. Get your adversaries to
chase you. When they get close the kryptonite will weaken them.
That is when you can turn and attack. Of course blows with your
feet will also be effective so if you get an opportunity to
deliver kicks, use them!"
Darklight appeared. "They're coming!" he remarked.
"Brought somebody I thought could help.
Krypto bounded in an immediately went to Jason. "A
dog!" Jason cried.
"Yes," Superman answered. "I had intended to
introduce you when this was all over, but I think our friend is
right! He could be useful in this struggle."
"There's someone else too," Darklight remarked,
"in orbit. I had to give him a boost to get him out this
far, but he'll be able to fight for several hours out here."
"Let's go!" Superman snapped.
He led the way outside. As they headed into space Lex Luthor
joined them in an armored space suite, but he kept his distance.
"The hull of this thing," Luthor remarked, "is
made of fusium, impregnated with kryptonite. It was designed to
fight you. It ought to work just as well against these
invaders."
"Why are you involved?" Superman asked.
"Two or three super beings," Luthor answered,
"interfering with my operations are acceptable. Several
hundred of them eviler than I am taking over my world? No way!
This is my turf, my territory! They won't get it without a fight!
Got to keep the playing field level!"
Superman siled. "Darklight! Jason!" he snapped,
"You're not as vulnerable to kryptonite as the rest of us.
Stay on this side with Luthor. Luthor, the plan is get them to
chase us. Let the kryptonite weaken them, and then attack."
"Sounds good!" Luthor answered.
They took up a line in space. Superman could see the ship
approaching but it was coming very slowly. "They've realized
about the guidance system," Darklight explained. "One
of them is pushing the ship. The others are inside."
Supergirl suddenly spoke up. "Scatter! The phantom zone
projector, it's extended and activated! They're going to try to
project us into the phantom zone!"
Before anyone could react something shot from the Earth's shadow
and hurtled passed Superman and the others travelling at
incredible velocity. It hit the phantom zone projector smashing
it apart, curved around and headed back the way it had come!
"What was that?" Supergirl cried. "Nothing on
Earth could rip apart something made by Kryptonians!" '
"Well, it was going too fast for even me to make out!"
Superman answered. "It was some kind of weapon. Apparently we
have an unseen ally! For some reason I can't even detect them
with my telescopic vision!"
"Them?" Supergirl asked.
"I saw three separate movements," Superman answered,
"in the Earth's shadow. In the Earth's shadow," he
repeated. "Yes! the Earth's shadow! Lead them into the
Earth's shadow. It will make them even weaker! We've had plenty
of time to absorb solar energy, they haven't! We'll be able to
fight in the Earth's shadow far longer than they can!"
The space ship stopped. A large man came around it and eleven
others came out of the ship and joined him.
"Surrender," Superman called, "and we'll return
you to the phantom zone!"
"Surrender?" one of them cried, "There's only six
of you and twelve of us. And one of you is a man in this silly
suit, and a dog and a boy and a girl! We are grown people. We can
easily defeat you!"
The man who had been pushing the space ship cried out "The
boy is mine! I like dealing with little boys!"
"Be my guest!" the leader cried.
They started forward and Luthor let loose with a barrage of
kryptonite rays. The attackers were momentarily startled. While
they were confused Superboy shot in and brought both his feet
into the big man's groin, then sped away. The big man and one of
the three women took off after him. The other two women headed
for Supergirl, who got a couple of kicks into both of them before
she headed for the Earth's shadow with them in pursuit.
Krypto shot around, got behind two of the younger men, and gave
both a quick chomp in the rear! Then he took off for the Earth's
shadow with them in pursuit. Superman and Luthor attacked those
remaining, fought them for a few minutes, and then headed for the
Earth's shadow. The battle was on!
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