The Conversation [Superman / Open]

[tucker94]

"Break in at S.T.A.R Labs, repeat, calling all cars, break in at S.T.A.R Labs"

The Security Guard ran around the corner. The intruder alert wailed in his ears. His heart rate increased as he drew closer to Weapons Lab. The alarm had been triggered and 10 minutes and 10 Security Guards later, the intruder had found his way to the core of the facility. He drew his pistol and brought it to his eyeline. He approached the opened vault door tentitively as his breathing slowed.

The Ghost strolled through lab as if he belonged. The wails and screams of the injured and dying around did not effect him.
"Music to my ears" Craddock mused as he made his way towards the next room at the end of the lab. He brought his cane to his side as the skull began to glow with a purple auora.
The energy blasted into the security panel, frying it's circuits and blowing the lights. The Ghost chuckled and began to whistle a joyful tune to himself, continuing towards the door with arrogance in his step.

[redhood]

Clark had finally made it to Gotham in his Superman outfit as he was hovering over the buildings looking down upon on them. He wondered if it was alright for leaving Metropolis the way it has been without being Lois with him or even telling her for that matter. With the quietness that been around Metropolis, Clark thought maybe Gotham would need a hand on since he been there. He would hope Lois wouldn't be too mad with him on finding out that he left minutes ago. Maybe he could be in Gotham just for this day and back to Metropolis by the crack of dawn.

Clark hovered down on a building's top having a low cover if anyone had good eyesight on seeing him. He began to think were Bruce been himself. He haven't heard anything about Batman. He must admit that he was happy that this "Nightwing" person was taking his place as Clark knew he did step up to the plate. There were more snapshots of him than Batman. Clark didn't know what was going on within Gotham but, He would certain on try to help as much as he can.

He then thought about what about Robin? Nah he would be on a vacation with Bruce. Clark knew Bruce would rarely or ever take vacations so what question was out. He decided to pay no attention to it as he walked close up against the railing seeing several distance lights that were on. With an alarming sound several miles away, Clark turn his head towards it as he lift up and fly. As he was proceeding, With the alarms going off, Clark heard.

"Break in at S.T.A.R Labs, repeat, calling all cars, break in at S.T.A.R Labs.

His face questioned as he hovered to the exact location. He rushed in from the bottom door running around corners getting close to the noise as he kept going. "Just what is going on here?" Clark didn't know who was behind this as he sees officers laying on the ground wounded as he walked passed them. Just from the damage that was caused here, He didn't know what was gonna happen next.

[tucker94]

Craddock wandered aimlessly through the labs leaving destruction in his wake. As he began to whistle the closing bars of Ode To Joy, he heard a gunshot ring out and felt his body shimmer and ripple. Craddock spun on his heels to see a trembling security guard with a raised pistol and a smoking barrel. "Freeze!" He managed to wrestle from his quivering lips "Stop or I will fire!". The Ghost cackled as he walked towards the man. He specifically placed each foot heavier than the last to instil more fear into the man's heart. His cane banged as it collided with the grid iron floor beneath his feet. Craddock's footsteps remained constant and even, creating a beat as he walked, reminding him of his own death as the drum sounded the seconds to his demise.

The Guard squeezed the trigger as Craddock drew closer towards him, but the bullet passed through his chest effortlessly and ricocheted into the wall. The Guard fired again and again but to no consequence. Craddock drew closer still with every footstep as the guard fired another round. Craddock was a matter of inches away as the man squeezed the trigger a final time to be greeted with a clicking noise rather than a deafening bang. "What are you?" he stuttered as Craddock clutched the top of his cane and twisted, his monocle glinting in the lab's dim lights. The blade slid from it's sheath with a sound of grinding as Craddock brought it to head height. With one swifter movement, he spun the handle on his fingers and plunged the blade into the Guards abdomen. He pulled the man onto the weapon as it tore through his skin and pieced his stomach. His uniform tore at the back as the point skewered through his skin and emerged from his shirt. Craddock breathed softly into the man's ear.

"Excellent question" he whispered as the Guard struggled for breath. "I am Gentleman Ghost. And yes, I will see you in hell". Craddock withdrew the blade from the dying man, showering his uniform in blood. The Ghost drew a hankerchief from his pocket and wiped the blade down. "Pity" He mumbled. "I like this sword. And I hate getting it dirty." As the guard collapsed infront of him, he finally saw the figure that had been watching for some time. His costume was immaculate with red and blue dancing from his chest.

"Superman. I didn't think it'd be too long before one of you showed up. We need to talk..."

[redhood]

Clark looked with his eyes going everywhere. There was alot of either dead or injured officers not moving. He could also see the horror in they're eyes as if they were in shocked. Parts on the bodies as what Clark can tell where stabs and slash wounds. They looked different from the bullet wounds they obtained too. He walked on in the hall bending down check each officers as he put his hands on they're neck or hand for a pulse.

It seems whatever person who came by here did short work of them Clark thoughted as he stood back up to his feet. He started to move on till a guard coughing up blood as he was on his legs shaking holding his gut where a deep slash looked it been there. Clark run to him as the man hold on the wall for support. He collapsed before Clark grabbed him up and sat him up inching down to sit right. "Calm down, Just tell me what happened here." Just as he asked the guard started telling him all guards where at they're post when a ghost came by breaking slaughtering most of his men. Just from this small statement he told made his body sweat more than he was before.

Clark thought. "A ghost?" He didn't want to believe what the guard was saying as he let the guard stay there. "Ok down move around much or you'll lose more blood. Just stay here were it's safe. I'm here to take care of things now."As Clark turned away from the man pursing whatever it was he was chasing. Soon Clark's running came to a halt through the bright and dimmed halls. He encountered what looked like a floating hat, eye piece, white suit and a cane. When he heard his name. He tensed up looking at him. "Gentleman Ghost." Clark said as he walked closer. "I won't talk if you don't stop attacking." Clark folded his arms showing that he is waiting hearing him out before attacking him.

[tucker94]

"Very well" Craddock agreed reluctantly. "No more killing". He threw his cane which landed and stuck into the metal at Superman's feet. "Of the guard's anyway..."

Gentleman Ghost had little knowledge of Superman's personality so treaded carefully. He walked over to the Man of Steel, narrowly missing the shards of debris that littered the labs floor and placed his hand on top off his cane. He let his weight shift so that he leaned on the cane and place on foot crossed in front of the other. "Truce"

Craddock brought his face right up to Superman's as he asked one of his many questions. "The Eye of Osiris Where is it?". He was unsure as to Superman's reply so pondered the situation to himself. He had massacred a minimum of 15 men to draw at least one hero to his location. Superman could have easily fought back by now but hadn't. Why so? Why had he waited? Why had he complied?

Craddock's mind threw out a number of reasons: To pick the right moment to strike, to stop the onslaught of innocent lives, to learn his plans and foil him at a later stage. All seemed plausible but to Craddock, not correct. He glanced Superman up and down as he awaited his response and thought about other factors.

Why was the Man of Steel here in Gotham, so far from Metropolis? Had he come alone or had he brought the rest of the Justice League with him? Where was Batman and why did he not respond. Craddock dismissed this nonsense and awaited Superman's reply.

[redhood]

Clark looked at Gentleman as he throwed his cane infront of him by an inch. For anyone it would made them jump out of they're wits but, Clark didn't move as he looked at his cane then had his head up looking back at Gentleman. Clark was happy that he agree to not kill no more. Clark knew that he wanted something just to come down here causing a ruckus like this. Even the walls were badly wrecked from his massacre earlier.

Clark nodded when he said Truce. It wasn't right for a superhero to be trucing with a villain such as Gentleman Ghost but, It was the best way if could prevent more bloodshed. Clark didn't stop him yet on being safe not letting more guards get hurt or killed as he thought about them first. Clark gave him a dirty look when he mentioned about The Eye of Osiris. "I don't know where it would be and if I did, I wouldn't tell someone like you."

Clark took another look at his cane as he could tell it was his weapon that caused those slashes on few guard's bodies. He narrowed his eyes back on the ghostly figure appearing before him. "Now since I heard you out, I think it's time for you to turn yourself in Arkham before I take you myself." Clark wasn't gonna let him free for killing those guards that were motionless on the ground with pools of blood surrounding them.

[tucker94]

Craddock lost enthusiasm when Superman told him that he wasn't going to tell The Eye's location. His body became more stiff and rigid as his frustration built up inside him. He began to hover slightly as Superman spoke. 

The rage built up inside him as Superman spoke of turning him over to the authorities. He planned his next moves carefully, deliberating a few options. He could pull out his sword and plunge it into his chest. He could drag Superman threw a portal to another dimension. But he needed him alive. Superman was the only one who knew The Eye's true location, Craddock was sure of it, so he needed him alive. 

The Eye of Osiris was an ancient artefact said to lead to the demonic prison of Cocytus. Craddock planned to use The Eye to break free the beings that were imprisoned there in exchange for his soul and let him become human again. When Superman refused to disclose it's information, Craddock became furious.

"Where is The Eye?" Craddock asked once more. Without even waiting for a reply, Ghost lunged forward with feet of the ground flying vertically towards the Man of Steel. He graded his cane fro his feet and passed straight through his chest. Craddock darted upward towards the ceiling and flew out onto the roof, assuming that Superman would instinctively give chase. 

The sun beams that greeted him hindered him slightly as he burst into the early morning sky. It was sun rise and the buildings in the city were groaning into life. Craddock turned to face the rooftop anticipating a figure to burst through the concrete roofing. He readied his cane in anticipation as the skull top began to glow purple. 

[redhood]

Clark couldn't tell the man's mood just cause he was a ghost. That's a advantage to him. They can't show no emotions what so ever. He didn't know why Gentleman would wanted The Eye of Osiris but he knew it couldn't be for the greater good. Clark stare at him keeping him in his sight. It didn't matter as long as can stop him from finding it's true location. But, as much as they both know, The Eye of Osiris was truly somewhere in Gotham.

Clark jumped a bit to hover as well with Gentleman. Something told him that he was gonna try and book it. Not on Superman's watch that is. The first thing Clark thought that the The Eye of Osiris could be in a museum since it's ancient piece. Clark did wonder how did Gentleman came up now and why? He hasn't been around for awhile since he took him out with Batman. When Gentleman moved forward, Clark tighten his fists by his side getting ready for a knockout fight. "Let's go."

He realized that he was actually leaving not listening to his demands on giving himself up. Gentleman even spoke about not just from asking the question about the eye again. He looked up as he went through the roof like nothing. Clark looked at the remaining guards. "Someone call an ambulance." He looked up once more and looked around for an window nearby. He hovered toward the distance window on this level of the building as he literally crashed through it without opening it trying to get to Gentleman Ghost before he lose him as he hovered up to the roof landing watching Gentleman Ghost's next move.

[tucker94]

A blast of purple energy darted across the morning sky and engulfed Superman. It became a ball around him, closing in tighter. "If you won't talk to me properly here" Craddock barked. "Maybe, there's somewhere you will"

Gentleman Ghost raised an outstretched hand towards a building, turning his head from Superman. Emerging on the side of the building was a flaming portal. It melted the metal and glass it touched and a light haze glinted from it. Inside the portal was a rocky landscape that seemed to be underground. Lava flowed through it's core and fire shot from it's sides.

Ghost tuned back towards the bubble that held Superman that was skill linked to his cane. With an almighty swing, Craddock threw the cane into the portal, energy and Superman with it. The cane spun in the air maintaing a constant beam of energy as it hurtled towards the burning domain. 

Superman hit the floor and the cane's energy dematerialised. Craddock flew towards the portal at full speed as the window closed shut behind him. He landed softly and held out his hand as the cane came spinning back into his palm. Ghost slammed the cane down with both has and purple mist blazed from it, blowing his cape upwards and flapping around him. "Now" Craddock growled. "As I was saying..."

[redhood]

Clark looked at purple energy with his eyes wide open on knowing what it was besides energy as he got hit by it surrounding him. He noticed it was morning already but, He didn't focus on that much when something trapped inside of it. Clark looked around the energy ball in was in and started punching and punching trying to break free from it but, It was useless. Clark was silence as he didn't really want to talk to him. He was more mad than he was earlier as he hasn't give up beating that energy to set himself free.

He noticed a flaming portal had open when Gentleman turned away from him. It burned anything that was in it's path. Clark knew that he was really in some serious trouble when that appeared. "I have to find a way to get myself out of this thing." He said as he think figuring a way. He fall back as the ball went into the portal along with the cane he had. Clark saw the link of purple from the cane to the ball in was in. Somehow he had to get his hands on that cane.

As soon he it the ground Clark coughed from impact looking around in another world that he was in that Gentleman tossed him into. Clark slowly got up standing infront of Gentleman and he was now pissed as he glared wanting to beat him down and take him back to Gotham. He noticed he was in air by Gentleman as soon he stand up. He was happy that no one was around to get hurt as it was just him and Gentleman. Clark waited for him to finish up his sentence before pummeling him.