THAM! "I need immediate aid! Where is Dr. Kent!?" Superman demands upon roughly barging his way inside the CADMUS facility, setting his sights upon the worker at the front desk.

"S-she may likely be in her lab still. She hasn't been seen leaving the building, so it's the safest bet." The male answers. With that alone to work with, the clone proceeds toward the door leading to the stairway at lightning speed. Up the stairs and through the halls of the second floor until he reaches the office he seeks. Banging immediately ensues as the Kryptonian lifts a fisted hand.

"Dr. Kent, are you in!? I need a curative for this."

image [https://files.catbox.moe/gkcehh.jpeg]

"Hang on, hang on. I'm coming. Though, I'm not exactly sure what you have that the sun c–" When she pulls open that door after getting up from her desk and walking, she pauses. Shock written on her face by what she sees.

"Even if it could, the Sun hasn't lessened his hindrance. The vision in my right eye is… inverted, I think. All I can see with it is a negative distortion of the world." He explains to her. Curiously, she raises her left hand to cup the right side of his face and brushes her thumb over the discoloration of his closed eye.

"Does it hurt?" She asks.

"No."

"Open your eye for me." She requests, and he obliges. His eyelid peels open to reveal a pinkish-red pupil surrounded by not white, but pitch black darkness. A complete contrast to his opposite.

"Who did this to you?" She questions.

"Some bizarre dark ooze that morphed into a woman dressed like Batman after I touched it. She said she was an 'Amalgamation of echoes'."

"...A woman dressed like Batman?" Dr. Kent repeats with a concerned frown overtaking her features.

"Yes. She was still made of that gooey substance, but she had taken a clear form of a woman dressed like him. Bat symbol and all." He affirms.

"Bryce…? But, it couldn't be…" She murmurs to herself, averting her eyes in deep thought. Her arms retreat to fold across her torso as she does.

"Bryce? Is that what its name is? Is that some sort of acronym for something?" Connor asks.

"No, it's the name of someone I knew. A friend of sorts, if I could even call her that." She answers honestly.

"...I'm confused."

"I know, Superman. It's a complicated thing. I'd have to see her for myself, but can you tell me everything that happened at the Watchtower?" Dr. Kent asks of him, which he obliges without hesitation. The moment he arrived, to his escalating dialogue with Hal Jordan, flying desperately through the halls of the giant structure, the unexpected aid from Batman, to what they found within a secret room, the things the bizarre woman said, the sudden flooding, and how he ended up out in space with no air. All of it he shares with her in that order.

"I see. I'm glad your secondary powers saved you, Superman. That must have been terrifying for you. And honestly, it sounds as if she actually does know I'm here. That shouldn't be possible."

"Here? Why do I get the feeling you're not referring to this building? What is her place of origin, and what does she want?" The clone presses.

"Well, she's from an entirely different earth. Bryce was The Bat back on omy old Earth – my original Earth. A dedicated detective just like the Batman on this Earth. Until she lost her mind, that is. Seems like she found her way through, too." She elaborates casually.

"An entirely different Earth? So the multi-verse is a real thing?" He asks with a lifting brow.

"Undoubtedly so, Superman. It is very much real."

"I see… But why did she say that I have your essence, and that she and I were similar? I was created here if I'm not mistaken. What did she mean by those claims?"

"You see, Earth is very much unlike Krypton. This planet, much like the identical one I came from, is primitive in comparison. I'm no stranger to the cloning field of science, but this planet only has so many proper tools I can use to replicate what was possible back on Krypton. I had to improvise when creating you. I ran tests and studied the DNA samples that were available to us, and determined that it would be near impossible to make certain you turned out stable. That is, until I experimented with my blood. Lex wanted a part kryptonian, part human clone of Superman. And I gave him the closest thing to it. There may be a little less human in the equation, but I delivered on what was promised." She answers honestly.

"Are you saying you're a kryptonian, as well?” He asks with narrowing eyes.

"That is indeed what I am implying. I'm also saying that the majority of your genetics come from me. About 50%. The other half is divided between Lex and Superman's DNA. By technicality… She wasn't lying or being cryptic. You ARE like me, and I'm certainly no native of this universe." Dr. Kent clarifies. The answers leave the clone more confused than anything else, even if there was no better explanation he could really ask for. Not that he had even a second more to dwell on the topic; something was zeroing in on their location like a sniper bullet.

Surely enough, impact arrives.

CRAAASSHH!

An eruption of destruction quakes the entire facility, and almost immediately the building goes into a code red. An alarm begins blaring throughout the halls as every available member of security rushes to confront the source of the commotion, armed to the teeth with high-end refiles.

Simultaneously, both kryptonians peer toward the direction the noise came from with the aid of x-ray vision.

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"Him…" Connor utters with disdain.

"Hm. Captain Atom, I believe? He's quite… different." Dr. Kent comments casually.

"He's just like her. He must be under her influence." Connor reasons, taking a moment longer to observe the subject at hand. However, it only leads to further confusion. Captain Atom seems to be forcing his way deeper into the facility while speaking in an unfathomable tongue. No language Connor has ever heard.

"I can't make out what he's saying.." The artificial youth admits.

"It sounds familiar in a way. It's no common language that's for sure, but it reminds me of Za–"

ZAAP!

Before Dr. Kent can finish that thought, a blast of vibrant green energy punctures through several walls, passing just beside Dr. Kent's head and leaving a hole in the one just behind her.

"Enough of this. I'm getting rid of him." Superman takes off in the next instance toward the raging Captain Atom like a speeding bullet. The Kryptonian arrives just in time to intercept a potentially lethal blow meant for a grounded security guard, blocking the energized punch with an X-formation of his arms.

"...Ouy rof gnihtemos tog I. ?huh, ebannaw namrepuS A" Captain Atoms speaks, staring with shifty eyes.

"I have no idea what you're saying, but you're not taking another step, Captain Atom. Surrender or be neutralized." The clone threatens, already building up concentrating energy within his eyes; one a burning crimson, the other an arctic cold blue. When he not only sees that forest green-ish aura around Captain Atom's hands shift to a bright shade of blue, but also a fist drawing back to throw another blow - Connor let's his adversary have it with full force. Teeth gritting as dual contrasting beams push Captain Atom down the hall and through several walls before the optic blasts finally stop.

"I warned you!" He yells out just before taking into a linear flight to keep the pressure on. Just as the inverted hero-turned-villain begins to rise to his feet, the Kryptonian is there to ram and smash him through another wall. The two tumble along the floor a short distance with Superman ending up on top with an advantage. The opposing forces struggle a bit as the captain reignites his hands in radiant blue energy again, but the clone eventually bypasses the other's defenses and delivers a hook to Captain Atom's jaw. Then another, and another, and another… Though it looks as if he's in control, something is off. He's becoming exhausted far too quickly without explanation, and each of his following punches are weakening.

"Haa…What.. Is.. haah.. this feeling?" He speaks between panting breaths as he throws several more punches. The last one actually hurts him a bit upon impact. He's losing momentum and another wrestle for control begins because of that. Bit by bit, but very surely, Captain Atom is overwhelming him. Connor can feel his body becoming lethargic. Sluggish, weakening, and straining - his muscles, his formidable strength, is failing him.

THWACK!!

A punch from Captain Atom easily sends the Kryptonian flying back through the giant holes in the walls they came from and violently tumbling until he meets one that's still intact. The artificial youth groans as he props himself up by his forearms, grimacing before the taste of iron soon hits his tongue. He blinks and reaches for his lips, gently dabbing his fingers where he was struck. He sees his own blood upon them and realizes his lips are busted open in some fashion, but there's no time to dwell on it. The fight isn't over.

[ Why did I lose my strength like that? I had the upper hand, did I not? Does it have something to do with the energy he's using? What is he using? Some sort of alien variant of plasma energy? Or is it solar absorption? ]

The clone takes but a moment to brush a fist across his mouth to wipe away the fresh blood before taking up a fighting stance as Captain Atom marches toward him with that same energy flowing around his fists. At some point, Connor feels that ill feeling returning the closer the other gets. Waiting to see what the other will do is obviously a flawed idea. A thin defensive layer of crimson telekinetic energy envelopes the clone's entire body with a vibrant glow just before he snarls and launches for his adversary with another hook. He connects! But…

"What…!?" Connor shouts in utter disbelief as he witnesses how he doesn't even make the other budge an inch. It’s as if he hadn't thrown that punch to begin with, and it left him in a state of shock. A grave error that the other takes full advantage of. A swift backhanded fist to the face sends Superman slamming roughly against the surface to his left. However, the Kryptonian doesn't fall from his feet. With but a short moment to collect himself, Connor retaliates by throwing another punch of his own. One that Captain Atom simply leans out of reach of. Another attempt from the youth is on its way, but an even quicker uppercut to his chin connects first, rocking him off balance. Before he can even catch a glimpse of the motion, a leaning straight punch strikes him dead center in the face, sending his back thrashing against the wall behind him. The energy manipulator follows and catches the Kryptonian before he collapses.

"Kuh!?" He feels a hand gripping around his throat with a squeeze, and just as he reaches to try and pry the hand away by its wrist, Captain Atom begins throwing punch, after punch, after punch. Each sending a tremble throughout the hallway. It's a very convenient thing Connor has a protective shielding around his body, otherwise he would've long since been unconscious, or possibly worse. There's certainly pain from each hit, but the impact is significantly reduced - mostly deflected by the telekinetic barrier.

Thinking is near impossible and his anger is beginning to boil. Not only that, but something at the depths of his mind is trying to claw its way to the surface. Something artificial, yet animalistic. A mental mechanism that was implanted within him, and it's on the verge of triggering in his helpless state.

KRROOOM!

This time, Captain Atom doesn't hold anything back. That last punch is more than enough to send the clone destructively rocketing out of the building and toward the very clouds above, eventually becoming obscured by the fluffs of white.

There's a little delay before doing so, but Captain Atom takes off like a bullet to pursue and finish what he started. Just as he’s nearing those clouds, he catches a glimpse of a red twinkle in the distance. The corrupted hero squints curiously, but discovers there's absolutely NO time to ponder on what he's seeing.

Because it’s coming right for him faster than the speed of light.

It's Superman. Or rather, the machine inside the man. His eyes are absolute red, deep as blood, much like his blazing telekinetic aura. His barrier no longer takes the shape of his physique, but now flows about like live fire. His expression is unhinged hatred, but his thoughts are vacant. His body has only one mission: Kill The Threat.

DHOOOOM!!

The two crash land in the middle of the open, barren field that leads to and from the CADMUS facility and sends out a violent tremor that reaches for miles around. Once more, Connor gains the upper hand again and begins pummeling away at Captain Atom's face with every fiber of his artificial being. His super strength is just about utterly void, but his secondary power adds some ferocious impacts behind his myriad of punches. There's a notable difference. It's just enough to where he can at least forcefully turn his adversary's head to some degree, but alas, it's nothing that renders the captain unable to defend himself. In fact, almost in a casual fashion, the glaring Captain raises up while seemingly ignoring the blows to his face. Captain Atom's radiant hand take aim at Connor's upper torso and discharges a burst of that same blue energy from before, sending the clone flying upward again.

"Mmnngh!?" Just as the Kryptonian finally ceases his involuntary flipping after taking another hit, he hunches over and clasps a hand over his mouth. His body wants to puke, and his inhuman consciousnesses couldn't even fight that imposing impulse. Luckily, there's nothing to barf up. The young man hasn't eaten anything at all. He didn't need to, for sunlight alone was enough to sustain his unique physiology. Once that distracting moment passes, he sets his hostile sights back onto his foe. Just in time to see Captain Atom flying right at him, too. Snarling like an angry beast, the clone roars out with sheer animosity and begins charging the other down, as well. He doesn't get far at all, however. Captain Atoms fires off another beam of blue energy at the Kryptonian, pushing him back while simultaneously sapping further away at his disadvantaged half. The hero-turned-villain gradually eases his output while closing the distance between, so that by the time he's within arm's reach, Superman is too fatigued to stop the flurry of blows that follow. A swiping hook to the left side jaw, an overhead hook to the right temple, a blow across the cheek, and a thorough gut punch that makes the clone hunch over while holding himself.

".nos, uoy rof ti si sihT" More incoherent speech that falls on deaf ears. Nonetheless, Captain Atom raises and joins his hands in unity, then brings down a thunderous hammer strike that sends Connor plummeting to the Earth like a cannonball. As expected, the landing is more than enough to form a crater three times his size. Dust rises and accumulates around him in seconds. Just as he’s losing sight of the Kryptonian's motionless body, Captain Atom shoots down an even more powerful burst of that apparent anti-kryptonian energy, one nearly just as great in girth as the shallow hole his victim is lying in.

".kcirt eht seod syawla ygrene nus deR" Captain Atom muses with a smug grin just before finally putting a stop to his assault and descending down to get a look at his adversary. It's around the very time more corrupted members of the Justice League arrive on the scene, approaching the crater as a group. But once the dust passes? Utter shock overtakes their expressions for a moment. There’s somehow no body to be found.

After a brief exchange of dialogue, the group brushes it off and proceeds inside the CADMUS facility to continue their search for their actual objective.

Elsewhere…

Unlike a moment ago, Superman finds himself lying upon a flawlessly flat surface, though the lingering sickness discourages the idea of even slightly lifting his head. He's back to normal, but dreading the awareness that comes with it.

[ It's so incredibly difficult to move… just the thought of rolling over onto my back hurts to think about. I feel so drained and weak… Did I die? Was I left to lay here? The last thing I remember was being punched repeatedly in the face back inside CADMUS' hallway. ]

Unable to muster a pinch of strength, the clone exhales weakly and closes his eyes in defeat. However, someone is there with him, as well. The individual who saved him.

"You don't look so good down there." A mature masculine voice speaks, inviting Connor to ease his eyes open again. What– who he sees crouching beside him draws absolute confusion across his sickly face.

"Who… are you?" The artificial youth asks.

"Me? Isn't it obvious, young man? I am your salvation."

End.