Chapter 26

A few days later….

Apollo was in the locker room getting ready for the game. His teammates were hyping themselves up and hyping him up too. The whole room was buzzing with energy. They'd never played a game this big before and they knew it. This game was getting National Coverage. ESPN was broadcasting it, scouts were filling the stands and the pressure and weight of the game was being felt by everyone. However, nobody in that room was overcome by nervousness, they were all brimming with excitement. Patting each other on the backs, screaming in one another's faces, all of them were getting amped up. Coach walked to the center of the locker room and looked around the room.

"Coach! Coach! Coach!" the team chanted as Coach Quigley stood there looking at all of them.

"Normally I would give a long speech right now but looking around the room I can tell you don't need it. We've spent so long preparing for this day, we circled it in all of our calendars and the day's finally come. Today's the day we show the Rocks that they're no match for the Crows!" Coach Quigley said his voice powerful.

The players shouted out after what Coach Quigley said and he smiled.

"We'll crush the Rocks and then crush everyone else that we face afterwards! This year we're winning it all because our team has it all" Coach Quigley spoke his voice growing louder with every sentence.

"We have an impenetrable defense! An unstoppable offense! And a GOLDEN ARM!" Coach Quigley shouted pointing at the defensive and offensive teams as he mentioned them before finally pointing at Apollo.

The team all shouted and clapped and jumped in unison hyped by their coach. Apollo joined in feeling just as hyped as his teammates did. This feeling, the feeling of being a part of a team was something someone who had been an outsider and felt so alone like Apollo had growing up was so grateful and thankful for. He felt Whitney hug him from behind for a moment before they ran out to go to the field still hyped and cheering. Apollo ran out with them saw Sprite and his parents standing outside the locker room waiting for him. Apollo stopped to talk to them briefly.

"Son we just wanted to say, we know this is a big game and we not only hope you're careful but that you have fun out there. I know I wasn't the biggest advocate for you playing but seeing you on the field or on the court this year has made me so proud and I am so very glad I get to watch my son do amazing things on every field or court he steps on" Jonathan told him.

"Thanks Dad" Apollo said happy to hear his Dad was proud of him.

"I'm proud of you too my sweet Apollo, I see how much it means for you to be a part of a team and I know the feeling and even though my team was very different to yours I am overjoyed to see that you get to experience and enjoy the camaraderie that being a part of a team lends you and I love seeing the man you're becoming and the leader you are on the field. You're my star and I'm proud that you're shining brighter every day" Ajak said cupping his face while she said it.

Apollo nodded feeling a little emotional at his Mum's words.

"Thanks Ma, I hope I continue to shine for you and make you proud" Ajak said as Apollo put his forehead to his Mum's and the two shared a moment.

He turned to Sprite who had her usual disguise/projection. She simply smiled at him before sticking her tongue out at him. He stuck his tongue back out at her and Jonathan laughed as Ajak rolled her eyes.

"I'm not giving you a compliment. Your head's big enough as it is. You want me to say something nice you've got to earn it. So go earn it. Go win the game BFG" Sprite told him.

Apollo nodded and then turned and ran through the hallways to the field knowing his name and number was about to be called. Apollo heard the announcers.

"And now taking the field. The team that has been unbeaten in the season. The hammer of Kansas lead by their star player. Wearing number 8, 'The Ultimate', Apollo Kent!"

The crowd began to cheer loudly and Apollo ran onto the field. He ran past the cheerleaders and briefly stopped to get a good luck handshake from Skye culminating in her kissing his helmet before he continued onto the field.

The air buzzed with excitement as the Smallville Crows took to the field for the biggest game of the season. The crowd was so big and so loud it was deafening. Apollo, clad in the team's red and gold uniform, stood tall and proud as the star quarterback. He knew if he stayed strong and ready so would his team, this may be a new environment for them but they were not out of their depth. He looked to his teammates, headfast and strong in his resolve to lead them to victory. The teams warmed up and the stadium reverberated with the cheers of the crowd, their anticipation palpable as they awaited the clash of titans on the gridiron.

The Crows won the coin toss and so they started with possession. The kickoff was done and after the Crows got possession Apollo took the field. Large sections of the crowd cheered him on while others booed him. Apollo drowned them out and focused on his teammates. They were looking to him, all their hopes were riding on him and he wouldn't let them down. Apollo read their defense and instantly knew what coverage they were trying to throw him. He smirked confidently before shouting out.

"Blue 47! Blue 47! Hut!"

Meanwhile, across town, a different kind of drama unfolded at the Hammer Industries plant. Justin Hammer, the enigmatic CEO, was in the midst of a crucial meeting with one of his foremen.

"Look I understand what I am asking you but with the attacks on different Hammer work sites I need you to up productivity" Justin said.

"I understand Mr. Hammer but there's only so much we can do. Nobody here's a miracle worker. We'd need better tech than what we currently have to do that" the foreman replied and Justin clenched his jaw.

It was always the same problem his tech wasn't good enough, sure it was better than most but no matter what he did, it couldn't compete with Stark tech. He wasn't a wunderkind like Tony.

"The tech is more than adequate; I've tested it myself. Bypass the recommended safety settings and push it to its limits" Justin informed him.

"That could be dangerous, the plant could suffer a meltdown" his foreman responded.

"It won't as long as you follow this equation" Justin said to his foreman before pulling out the piece of paper Apollo had written on a few days prior. The foreman read the equation and then nodded.

"This will work, although I still think an improvement of tech could take the plant to new heights" the foreman told Justin and he fought the urge to clench his jaw again.

"Just do it until we can figure out who or what is attacking the sites. Once we do that take it back to recommended levels" Justin responded.

The foreman nodded a bit fearful but Justin put his hand on his shoulder assuring him. The foreman walked away to inform his men of what needed to be done his mind more at ease about the situation due to Justin's charm and charisma. Justin got a call, his assistant was informing him that the Smallville Crows game had begun and that Apollo was playing like a hall of famer. Justin smiled and began to head out hoping he could arrive at the school in time to watch the second half. However, it seemed fate had other ideas. Alarm bells started ringing and the ground began to rumble like a miniature quake was happening. Justin began to get fearful he heard commotion outside. He heard gunshots and screams and something that could only be the sound of explosions as well as human bodies being crushed and flung around. Justin felt his heart begin to race faster, his fear was turning to panic. His security detail ran in to collect and protect him soon thereafter easing his mind a little but his mind was still racing with questions.

"What's happening?" Justin asked as he was being run to the safe room.

"We're being attacked" one of his security guards told him.

"What group would be crazy enough to attack a power plant?" Justin questioned.

"Not a group sir, a man" his security guard informed him.

"What kind of man could cause commotion like that?" Justin said his voice filled with bewilderment.

He got his answer moments later as a man in all black wearing a metal skull mask walked into the corridor. The man was glowing with purple energy, had purple fire coming from his eyes and a purple fiery aura surrounding his skull mask.

The man let out a deafening roar and the plant seemed to shake. And even though his eyes were not visible under his metal mask everyone in the corridor knew they were ablaze with fury.

"HAMMER! Today's the day of your reckoning" the man shouted.

His security team began to open fire at him as Justin ran away, he heard the man grunt as if the bullets hurt him but none of them were doing enough damage to actually kill him.

"You thought you could ruin me but it is I who will ruin you. I am Albert Martin, I am the Atomic Skull and I will be the man who destroys everything you hold dear" Atomic Skull shouted as he began to crush Hammer's security team one by one.

Justin didn't even look back, his body was filled with fear and adrenaline, he was witnessing the impossible and the impossible was here to kill him. Justin remembered Albert Martin and how he ensured he didn't work in Smallville to make sure he didn't have any competition and he knew this was revenge. Justin had no idea what happened to Al after their dealings but whatever it was it gave him power and murderous rage. He ran faster and faster through his power plant racing to the safe room and locking himself inside it.

However, he knew it was only a matter of time until Al found him, Justin wanted more time to think and try to find a solution to his current predicament but he was completely unprepared. He looked around the room and saw a powerful machine gun he and his team had been working on for the army before they took Stark's tech instead. Hammer picked up the gun and steeled himself. He heard the explosive footsteps of Atomic Skull closing in. Moments later he heard the door be punched. A dent was put in it but it held. Hammer knew it wouldn't for long though. The door was punched again and again, every punch living a dent in the metal structure. Justin cocked the gun as the room began to shake under the force of the Atomic Skull's powerful blows.

The door finally broke open and Al walked in but as he did so Justin opened fire. The bullets of this gun were of a more powerful caliber than his teams' handguns and they forced Atomic Skull back. Justin ran out of the room and decided to run to an exit and hope he could drive off. Justin began to sprint but was slowed down by the weight of the gun he was holding. Atomic Skull who had seemingly already recovered from the gunshots chased after him and despite Al's large frame he was incredibly fast. Impossibly fast in fact. He caught up with Justin in a couple of strides and knocked him over. Justin crashed into the wall and was instantly very disoriented. His vision became blurry and all he could hear were the loud alarms of the power plant. Justin's eyes began to tear up as it hit him that he was probably about to die. So much for a new beginning Justin thought his body shaking with fear as he felt the immense heat coming from the Atomic Skull who was looming over him.

"So Mr. Hammer any last words" Atomic Skull said. His glowing body was partially bruised and bleeding a little from the gunfire but he was in far better shape than Justin.

"You don't have to kill me Al. I can get you anything you want, anything you could dream of I could give it to you" Justin pleaded using the one thing he had relied on more than his mind growing up which was his charm.

"The only thing I dream of is crushing you" Atomic Skull said as he picked up Justin and hurled him across the corridor to the other wall. Justin hit the wall hard and instantly lost consciousness.

Atomic Skulls fists crackled with energy as he slowly advanced on Justin intent on delivering a fatal blow but wanting to savor the moment.

As the tension reached it's breaking point in the power plant the roar of the crowd from the nearby stadium reached a fever pitch. Apollo had been dominating the game but the Rocks were reigning state champions for a reason. The game was close and going into half-time the Crows were a field goal behind. The team was heading back to the locker room to recalibrate and Coach was already telling them the game plan for the second half but Apollo wasn't fully listening. The alarms of the power plant were blaring in his ears just like they were during the game. Something was happening over there. Apollo had wanted to run off and help when he first heard it but was in the middle of a play. Apollo still managed to dominate but even he knew he wasn't playing at his best as his heart was more focused on wanting to help than throwing a football. Now though he couldn't ignore it, he fully listened and became attuned to the chaos unfolding across town. Apollo turned wanting to see who or what was causing the alarms but all the lead made it very difficult for him. But the lead didn't stop his other senses; he could still hear the sound of the alarms, hear the racing heartbeats of the scared employees, taste the smoke in the air, feel the vibrations from something very powerful walking through the power plant, and he could smell the blood from all the people that had been killed. Apollo felt a surge of urgency pulse through him. He couldn't stand by and let people die. He ran off to Sprite who was standing by the lockers most likely waiting to say something to him, moving so fast it seemed like he simply apparated to her.

"I need you to create an illusion for me" Apollo said in a hurried and whispered tone.

"What type of illusion" Sprite said as she rolled her eyes a little like doing this was a chore for her but still completely trusting Apollo so much that she didn't even question why he would need an illusion.

"Just hide that I'm gone until I come back" Apollo told her.

"Where are you going?" Sprite asked.

"To save lives" Apollo told her.

Instantly her hands glowed golden as she began to generate an illusion just as in tandem Apollo shed his football helmet in a swift motion and dashed off, leaving his teammates and the game behind. Apollo stripped out of his football gear, quickly changing into something more comfortable; a plain blue shirt, a red hooded jacket and some blue jeans. He also grabbed one of Pete's red bandanas from his locker and wrapped it around his lower face to make a makeshift mask before pulling his hood over his head.

Apollo ran out of the stadium at incredible speeds, the world frozen around him as he ran well beyond the speed of sound before taking off and shooting up into the sky instantly accelerating and flying at hyper sonic speeds. In a blur of motion, Apollo soared through the sky, racing towards the Hammer Industries plant. With every passing millisecond he closed the distance between himself and the dangerous force he could sense at the power plant, his mind focused and his determination unwavering.

Apollo arrived just in the nick of time but what he saw astounded him for a moment. Apollo saw a man glowing with purple energy, his eyes were ablaze with purple fire and he wore a metal skull mask that was surrounded by a purple fiery aura. Apollo had never encountered someone with powers who wasn't a member of his family or a shapeshifting alien but this man was neither. He was something entirely new. A quick scan showed that he was human and the energy he was giving off was atomic. The man raised his right arm about punch the unconscious Hammer his fists glowing with atomic energy. Apollo wasted no time and descended upon the scene like a guardian angel, his presence heralded by a gust of wind and a sonic boom. Apollo caught the man's fist shocking him. Apollo threw the man back then checked on Justin. He wasn't worried about Justin recognising him trusting that his hood and makeshift mask covered his face enough that anyone wouldn't know it was him. Justin was out cold, he had some bruised ribs and bones from being knocked around but nothing fatally dangerous. Apollo turned to face the glowing man who was getting up to attack once more. His entire body was giving off radiation. Apollo looked at his cells, they were human but altered. His entire genetic code was filled with dark matter and x elements strung together across his DNA. He was one of the meteor infected people Chloe had been theorising existed. His cells weren't just leaking radiation though; they were generating power like a nuclear reactor and burning through that atomic energy in order to maintain the empowered state he was currently in. The man must generate radiation and atomic energy to power himself Apollo theorised, that type of power would make him extremely dangerous even if he didn't want to be. Apollo needed to stop him from causing any more damage. Apollo listened to his heartbeat, he could use that to figure out what he was feeling and predict what he'd do next. The glowing man was filled with rage and he could practically feel the murderous intent coming off him in waves, or maybe that was just the radiation.

"I don't know who you are but I won't let you hurt any more innocent people" Apollo told the glowing man disguising his voice while his hood and mask up hid his face.

"I am the Atomic Skull and I haven't hurt anybody innocent here today" Atomic Skull said.

"You know I kinda find that hard to believe" Apollo said as he gestured to all the injured people around him.

"They all deserved it, all of them. They protected Hammer and that means they all got what was coming to them" Atomic Skull said.

Atomic Skull's fists crackled with energy and Apollo could see him absorbing the radiation of the plant like a sponge.

"I'll crush you like I crushed them and then I'll crush Hammer" Atomic Skull said charging towards Apollo.

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Also read Superman(Marvel+DC) and Marvel: Hyperion.