Mole Minions

March 13, 2017:

Clark meets Jonah at a park in Metropolis. Molemen appears from the ground, Clark gets locked in a bathroom stall, Superman shows up along with a hero in a wheelchair and a speedster.

Metropolis Park

Characters

NPCs: None.

Mentions:

Plot:

Mood Music: [*\# None.]


Fade In…

Indeed its rather a nice day and Jonah is out enjoying it. He is currently sitting on a bench with a sub in hand loaded with different meats and veggies. Taking a bite he holds it out a bit as some filling does goto the ground where a dog is there to eat the meat droppings and irds peck at some of the veggies.

Noticing the reporter he watches him walk with his load of stuff towards the young baseball team or whatnot. Taking another bite the lettuce crunches a bit in his mouth before he takes a napkin wiping up a bit.

*

The young baseball team is somewhat scattered about at the moment playing in the small local park. Their whole reason for being outside being the interview. They snack away on their own lunches as Clark comes closer.

With a smile Clark raises a hand to wave towards the small group gathered, with parents waiting in watch. As he walks he manages to trip right over a slightly overgrown branch stuck to the path and takes a tumble ground-wards, the clumsy reporters bag going wild as he hits the pavement. Thankfully due to quick thinking he's able to clutch the expensive camera to his own chest preventing any damage that might need to come out of his paycheck.

*

Watching the guy with the camera and all the stuff. Jonah gets up wrapping his sandwich he tucks it away into a bag which he leaves on the bench. Jogging over to help the guy up, "Woah there my Brutha. Are you alright?" he leans down to take hold of his bag if allowed to pick it up with ease, "I can help hold this for you if you'd like. I know some need an assistant to help with such things."

*

Despite his rather unimpressive appearance upon helping Clark up it becomes clear he's a bit heavier then one might expect, and mostly muscle at that hidden beneath his rather thick unflattering clothing. Once back to a stand he gives another check on the capped camera making sure that it's not damaged in any way.

"Thank you, thank you." Clark offers with a friendly smile, looking mostly towards the ground the rather meek reporter giving a bit of a smile. "Sorry for taking you away for your lunch with that spill there." He laughs a bit scratching the back of his greased down hair. "I can be a bit clumsy, and I'm used to having someone else with me to take care of the photography."

There's a slight twitch for a moment of his ear, something catching his attention for just a moment. He looks at the space above Jonah's head as if reading a sign or a book that's floating above him. Eyes focus behind his glasses before attention falls right back on Jonah. "I'd be more then happy to welcome the help, even give you a cut of the profits for the story if you'd accept them." Eyes close partially as he gives another warm smile.

*

Being able to tell this man is stronger than he looks, Jonah has learned not to ask questions. "No need for that Sir. I am honored to help you." his accent is mixed Hawaiian and New Zealand. For a moment though he does pause as something rather hits him a bit. "Payment for me would be allowing me to cook for you sometime. I plan to open my own but I work at a small cafe."

*

Clarks own accent is very much 'newscaster' with a very subtle bit of Kansas still left in their hidden behind the learned accent. "I'm sure I could convince Perry to even let me do a write-up all about it, when you open." Said in a chipper voice as his ear twitches slightly again.

"Maybe even two, one for the cafe and one for the new place." Just friendly all around as he walks towards the park, taking off the cap so he can snap a quick picture of the pitcher of the team throwing the trophy into the air. The camera repeatedly snaps photographs as the trophy lifts spins in the air and is cought. "It's the least I can do for your help."

*

Jonah loves to help out anyone that needs it. He smiles as the kids celebrate their victory. Though he can not shake the feeling that all of this is about to change for the worst. "That would be great. The cafe could use the business really. Its rather a small hole in the wall as some would call it. But I like to think the food is good."

*

Clark stops mid stride, grabbing hold of his stomach. "I don't think that burrito I grabbed on the way over is settling well with me." He pauses for a moment before starting to make a turn towards the public restrooms. "I need to take a trip to the little reporters room, but I'll be right back" As he heads off in the direction of the small brick building.

*

Coming to a stand still, Jonah watches as Clark heads for the restrooms. Still holding onto his bag of stuff. Now looking about he can't really shake the feeling of something is about to happen. Moving to the water fountains he takes a drink from the tall one but noticing a small kid struggling with the smaller one he helps him out by lifting him up a little to make it easier to get a drink. As his mom thanks him he offers a polite smile and nod of the head.

*

It's at this moment that the ground begins to shake. Trees topple over onto their sides, and the earth begins to shake and bubble up from deep bellow the earths surface. The monkey bars raise as a small hill rises up from under it.

Clinging onto his trophy for dear life the boy at the top of the monkey bars clutches hard with his legs trying not to be knocked off as he's lifted a full foot in the air. As ground breaks and cars at the street shake, alarms going off, the glint of a diamond drill tip protrudes fourth.

From the moment it breaches the surface the drill begins to slowly open akin to the jaws of a strange alien creature. Parents stick close to their children still in uniform doing their best to keep them from harm, even as a bright light shines up at the boy and his trophy.

*

As the ground begins to shake Jonah sets the bag he is holding down. Noticing the boy on the monkeybars, he then looks towards the restrooms rather worried about him in there as well. No he has no powers but it has never stopped him from wanting to help so he takes off running in the direction of the monkeybars even though the ground shakes beneath his sandaled feet, "Jump!! I will catch you!" he tells the boy at the top holding out his arms, "Just going to have to trust me."

*

"I can't." The young kid starts clutching hard and rocking with his trophy. "What if you drop me?" As he raises still higher before the hill finally comes to a stop. Yet with one last moment of hesitation he jumps, eyes closed from the raised hill right towards the waiting Jonah.

Suddenly there's a flash of light a streak of red and blue from on high. There's a moments silence before the thunderous BOOM of the sound barrier breaking finally arrives causing a massive wind that shakes hair and windows setting off yet more car alarms. Standing where the boy had just jumped from is none other then the Man of Steel. Superman! His cape flows in the last ebbs of the wind, grass already broken up blown off to one side to reveal the large brass bug like contraption with two windows where eyes would be.

Inside the eyes of the creature are men in hard hats wearing welding masks and puffed up clothing. Red glowing dots shine from behind their lenses, as they look out into the world covering over their eyes blinded for just a moment before flicking down their visors.

*

Catching the boy as he jumps, Jonah sets him down letting him run to safety. Then he blinks as suddenly Superman appears and all this other stuff begins to happen. He isn't overly shocked because he has dealt with supernatural stuff before but all he can do at the moment is watch Superman rather in awe of him though he does look towards the restrooms a couple of times wondering if he should go try to find Clark.

*

Wind continues to flow past dragging Supermans cape gracefully in the air, as he holds his pose head looking up towards the sky for a long moment, before he slowly lowers his head to look at the device half stuck into the ground.

Children hiding behind their parents half peak out for a glimpse at the man of steel. People in the scattered crowd begin to clap and cheer, throwing their hats up into the air, as Superman hops down from the monkey bars and lands behind the bus sized bug shaped drill.

It's still a beautiful day, the sun shining down and glinting off of superman's bright symbol of hope. The man of steel slams his hands down into the ground up-heaved by the massive metal monstrosity, and with one mighty heave ho he starts to lift the beast and the ground high into the air. Dirt crumbles off the sides along with clumps of grass eliciting a cheer, as the full size of this dastardly drill becomes clear, a full city buss just formerly buried into the ground now held aloft.

From within the open maw of what had been a drill small men no taller then a child begin to pour out. Each one is dressed in hard hats and welders masks, wearing full dirty coveralls. In their hands they hold wrenches and spanners. They pause for a moment before starting their lumbering adorable charge towards Jonah!

*

It is a beautiful day. One where a certain wounded Batling didn't really need to be dragged outside to be reminded that she's not going to turn to ashes in the sun, even if it's still a better love story than Twilight. But said Batling is in a wheelchair as Barry is standing behind Stephanie, pushing her in a wheelchair, the young woman's leg is in a cast.

"Tomorrow's pie day!" he offers to her with a grin. "So, I have to figure out what pies to make.." he's obviously teasing her, before he adds, oh dear lord, "I could make you pies." he grins broadly. That is until he feels the vibrations in his feet, and his speedster senses start to realize he's on possibly unstable ground. Stephanie will feel the slight vibration of his speedforce through the metal framework of the chair. Before he can say more, the mining machine is bursting forth from the ground, and there are… 'cheers'? He looks confused, before the Man of Steel himself is on the scene. Barry's hands tighten on the handles of the wheelchair, several meters from the scene as he looks down at Stephanie. "Wow. So that's him." he says, a bit awestruck for a moment, then grins. "Bet I'm faster."

*

Stephanie was NOT happen about being out and about during Spring Break while in a cast of shame. But Barry's so obviously trying to keep the day as light hearted as possible, so the cheerleadr Gothamite can't stay too broody for too long.

"You are such a nerd," she's saying to him, craning her neck to peer up at him. She's grinning at the idea though. Barry making pies.

"And no, I don't think you could make pies. You have to be patient and wait a lot," she teases righ tback before the vibrations in her chair have she wanting to straighten up, to get up, to figure out what's happening. That's when her eyes alight on the blue and red. Her lips part at her first real sight of him. The Man of Steel. The Bulletproof Alien from Another Planet.

"Even money," is all she quips, because sometimes its fun just to annoy the speedster.

*

As the group of kid sized enemies come running at him. Jonah reaches back and inside of his shirt pulling out a shot gun. Cocking it he holds it out towards them unaware of Barry and Stephanie for now. "Bring it." he tells them using a hand beckoning with a hand.

*

"Destruction of public property, assault, you boys are looking at quite the sentence." Superman holds the tank like metal bug drill over his head. Slowly he begins to float into the air. Once he's about five feet off the ground his eyes begin to glow bright red. Beams of fiery energy erupt from his eyes slamming into the drill, which starts to grow white hot. Metal drips down to the ground as he completely ruins the head of the device, and then the legs, soon after setting it back to the ground.

The small welding mask clad figures skid to a stop at the sight of the gun. A moments pause before they kneel down and start picking up clumps of dirt to throw. Each one hopes to be the one to knock the gun out of his hands, as they chatter to themselves making strange insectoid noises.

*

"Even money. Feh." Barry says, kissing the top of Stephanie's head. However, it seems that one of the creatures has noticed the pair and is starting towards them as he chitters and skitters loudly. "Uh. That would be a /bad/ idea." he says slowly as he notices the creature rushing at them as he turns the wheelchair aside, offering the front towards enemy so that Stephanie can get aimed at the little miner creature.

*

#SpoilerAlert This is not the dumbest idea I've had today.

Turned toward the insects, Stephanie squeaks a gasp, her eyes going wide. She can't get up right now! She can really only kick with one leg, and that's her off leg, and… and.. and… she has a thing in her backpack. Becasue batlings are always prepared. Especially the Girl Scout of the group. (Oh yeah, Superman's a Boy Scout! We have so much in common!!!)

Stephanie pulls out her sling shot and a a rubber slingshot ball. She seats the projectile, pulls back as she aims, and then lets loose.

"Very bad idea."

*

Being pelted by the balls of dirt doesn't really phase Jonah all that much and honestly he doesn't do much other than make his aim a little off. He manages to get off a couple of shots before running to block some kids and their parents that seem to be paralyzed in fear. Bam Bam Bam he lets off three more shots that ring out through the air.

*

The little creatures sling their clods of dirt and fan through the crowd trying to make their way towards the little boy clutching the regional trophy. The one that gets beamed with the rock spins end over end before falling down to the ground.

In the blink of an eye as the shots go off Superman is gone from behind the craft. A blurr of red and blue as he is now standing with his cape flowing in the crack of the sound barrier, in his hands the bullets. "Alright people, there's no need for that now, we can all sit down and handle this like adults." A voice of command and control over the situation, as the other masked figures just pause mid swing petrified by the sounds of the gun.

*

See. Stephanie is using non-violent means as she shoots the little bugger in the helmet, rattling him around with the rubber coated steel ball, causing it to perhaps see stars. She and Barry are working together as a team, it seems. Perhaps they've done this before. She fires, he moves, running like a sprinster, not daring to use his powers before he hears the shotgun blasts.

He was about to respond when Stephanie reminds him of patience and Superman does his thing. So.. no Flashing out. Instead, he moves back Stephanie during the pause in the action to give Stephanie some breathing room to fire again if she needs to. "So how many pellets do you have there, Miss Slingshot?" he asks teasingly.

"Enough to shoot you if you call me that again." Stephanie retorts.

*

Jonah Maiava moves now to stand guard in front of the boy with the trophy. He doesn't shoot anymore but his gun is still in hand and ready if he needs too. He doesn't like hurting others but he will if it keeps someone else from getting hurt.

*

Superman walks slowly over taking his time to leave his hands held up walking between the group. "Alright, now that we're a bit more calm, let's take a moment breathe, and work things out." For the moment it seems the strange creatures have been stopped. With Superman giving a reassuring confident smile.

Bary and Steph are able to easily fend off the little creatures. Each time one hits the ground they let out a lout squeak, one manages to get its lens cracked on the visor causing it to clutch hard to its helm.

The ones standing seem stuck behind a rock and a hard place. They stand with hands out grasping towards the small stone at the top of the little-league statue, speaking in that chattering, seemingly unable to speak the english proper.

*

With Superman calling a halt to the activities, Barry moves back, bringing Stephanie's chair with him. "Last time I take you out for corn dogs." he mutters teasingly as he does so. "Can't even have a normal date without all you know what breaking out."

*

"Yeah? Well… suck it up, Buttercup," is all Stephanie has to say in reply to normal dates going sideways. Because replying that the most normal date they had involved under the sea dining is so not happening right now. Blue-green eyes sweep over the scene, on the litle men that have stopped 'attacking', and Superman floating there all cool with his cape. Stephanie misses her cape. And her bike. Good thing it flew back to the garage on its own already. Soon as she can get up and moving, she's got ANOTHER hole to fix on its side. Mental note is made to ask Bruce how he gets his car from looking beat up all the time.

*

Jonah Maiava watches the little creatures, its like minions on steroids or something. As they make grabby hands towards the trophy he looks at it a moment trying to understand what they are wanting. "They want the… stone or whatever?"

*

With Superman seemingly in control of it all, and no more little monsters after them, Barry turns, and like an appropriate civilian, beats feet, with Stephanie in tow as they head off towards unknown locations.

*

The boy who'd won the trophy looks up to the bright blue gem in the center of the trophy. It just looks like a standard bit of costume jewelry catching the light. Not exactly a rock worth stealing.

Yet the small creatures continue to chitter chatter with hands outstretched towards it. "That'd be my best guess." Superman speaking in that booming voice of his. "My moleman is a bit rusty, but they seem to think the stone belongs to them." He walks over eyes focusing hard on the gemstone. "It looks like it's actually made of Calcium, Zirconium, Boron, Aluminum, Oxygen, and Neodymium." He pauses for a moment before placing a hand on his chin. "I'll admit I've never actually seen a gemstone quite like it."

The man of steel looks over towards the crowd for a moment, eyes locking for a moment on that familiar face of Barry. A light nod of the head is given in acknowledgement, and a friendly smile. His stance never faltering for an instant, even as the insect that had been knocked clear back slowly walks forward with its hand out.

*

Jonah Maiava stays in front of the boy, "We don't know what they want with it. Could be for ill intentions. You can't expect them to break a trophy they worked hard for to appease these.. minions or whatever they are." he watches as the other pair leaves.

*

"I suppose we've hit a bit of an impasse here then" Superman kneels down onto his knee as to be closer to eye level with the small creatures. "If they're telling the truth, and I believe they are, it makes sense that they would have the gem returned to them" Superman pauses and the creatures seem to understand taking a moment to look at each-other. "After they've paid their fines to the city and been through the court system of course." He pauses. "Yet you're right, the young team here have every right to the prize they earned, so I think the only thing fair to both sides is that a duplicate of the gemstone be made, so neither side has to give up their rights to it."

*

Jonah Maiava listens as Superman speaks finding him rather fascinating. Taking out his cellphone he snaps a quick picture sending it to someone. "And how do we do this? I am just a regular guy that likes to cook. Can you make a duplicate?"

*

"Well all it really takes to make a gemstone is Heat and pressure applied to the ingredients." Superman starts, before scanning the sky for a moment. "In a way it's cooking of a different sort." He uses hand gestures to articulate his point, still down on that one knee. "This way your team gets to keep their prize for years to come, and our fine insectoid friends here get their stone." The creatures chitter loudly in agreement, before Superman reminds them. "After they've served their sentence."

*

Jonah Maiava nods his head, "Its an honor to met you sir. I am Jonah, I am here helping a journalist that might be injured or hiding in the bathroom." he glances that way rather curious though smirks at his own thoughts.

*

Superman comes to a heroic stand, after ruffling the young boys hair. His smile of pure white teeth takes a glint of light shining bright and clear as he turns to offer Jonah a handshake. "Jonah, you've done a great thing here today, and while I might be the one doing the flying, it's people like you that are the real heroes." A firm handshake given if it's accepted. "America couldn't exist without the everyday heroes willing to put themselves on the line for the people around them."

Superman nods his head firmly, the flashes of camera phones flickering out from around the crowd during his minispeech. "I'll leave you to it Jonah, you just make sure you keep a better eye on that itchy trigger finger of yours." A light tap on his own head with the index finger. "I don't want to have to keep diving in the way of them." A lighthearted laugh offered up.

With a small wave of cheers and applause from the parents, little leaguers and bystanders superman gives a quick pat on the shoulder to Jonah, before in another blur he's picked up the whole group of critters and placed them right back into their mining pod. One last wave to the crowd and he zips away at hypersonic speeds.

*

Jonah Maiava gives him a firm handshake in return. He just met Superman and was complimented by him! The gun safety is reset and tucked back into its hiding place. Taking another quick selfie a thumbs up catching Supes in the background and its sent away. "Clark is going to be upset he mised this! I hope he didn't get trapped in a stall." indeed maybe he should go check on the man.

*

The man of steel vanishes off into the distance little more then a blur. No time left for questions or requests only a quick goodbye and a compliment before vanishing off into the horizon with the accompanying BOOOM.

*

Jonah Maiava walks now towards the restrooms and inside of it, "Clark?" he calls rather curious if the burrito did a number on him or what.

*

"Hello?" A slightly panicked voice calls out from one of the stalls, right before the banging of the door rings out. A loud thump rings a second later of someone trying to throw themselves against the stall door. "Oh Jonah thank goodness you're here." He sounds half worn down as he tries to throw himself against the door just one more time. "The handle broke off, and I've been trying to get out of here ever since I heard the commotion outside."

*

Jonah Maiava makes his way to stand outside of the stuck stall door. He is rather a strong man and these doors don't look brand new. Taking hold of it he gives it a few good jerks popping it loose and he tosses it away. "You totally missed it. These little mole like things came out of the ground and were after the gem on the trophy these kids won. Superman showed up. I got a couple of pictures on my phone of him."

*

Clark looks haggered, his hair a mess from where it looks like he'd been pulling at it just to get a grip on himself. His suit-jacket is hung on the wall next to him, the toilet seat put down so that he can let his camera rest on it. He goes wide eyed at the conversation, before reaching into the pocket of his pants to grab.. a pad of paper and a pen, not a cellphone. Scribbling furiously. "Did you get any good quotes? What did they look like? Are the kids alright? Are YOU alright? Did they get away with anything? Why did they want the trophy?" A million questions thrown out every which way.

*

Jonah Maiava blinks as a dozen questions are asked, "They spoke an odd language and not sure why they wanted it. No one was hurt, all the kids are safe and I am fine as well. Kind of looked like moles, they used a machine to drill up out of the ground. They wanted to gem on the top of the trophy but I didn't understand why."

*

Clark scribbles down like a madman etching out with what seems to be an ink pen of all things. Say what you will about him he knows retro, and he's good at it. The calligraphy is quick and beautiful, though it's barely legible for all of the flourishes and shorthand. "Why does this happen every time?" He says exasperatedly trying to talk and write with a look in his eyes of disappointment at the fact yet again he'd missed Superman. "They'll never let me hear the end of it when they realize he was here and I had front row seats to witness it but got locked in a stall."

*

Jonah Maiava shows him the pictures one of Superman kneeling down and of course his fanboy image. "I am sorry you missed it. But at least you were safe in here to not be trampled by those running away."

*

"Trampled by people, or trampled when Perry finds out." Clark lets out a nervous laugh, leaning in to look at the photographs. "Thanks Jonah, you really saved my bacon, I owe you one."

*

Jonah Maiava smiles to him, "Anytime my friend. Happy that I could help out." he keeps it to himself that Superman called him a hero letting this be his secret even though the masses outside heard it.

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