[color=gray][INDENT][COLOR=SILVER][SUB][SUP][H3][b]EARTH[/b][/H3][/SUP][/SUB][SUB]Sol System - Milky Way Galaxy[/SUB]
[SUP][i]Now[/i][/SUP][/color][INDENT]Manchester Black had a splitting headache.

He had awoken in Smallville General Hospital, the last thing he remembered was the alien standing over him before a finger had touched his forehead. After that, darkness and a dull thumping in the front lobe of his skull. 

With a groan, Agent Black sat up in his bed. 

[i][color=#76689b]Too fast.[/color][/i]

He groaned inwardly as the room began to spin, tucking his head between his knees for a brief second until it stopped. What sort of power did the alien hold that a single touch was enough to render a grown man unconscious?

[color=#ffffff]“Sir,” [/color]A voice at the door interrupted Manchester’s wallowing as he raised his head, squinting as the light from the hallway seared into his eyes.

[color=#ffffff]“Sir, are you alright?”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“Couple o’Aspirin and a Carling if you got it, luv,”[/color] 

[color=#ffffff]“I’ll ask the doctor about something for the pain,”[/color] The nurse replied with a weak smile, [color=#ffffff]“You’re on your own for the drink I’m afraid.”[/color] Ducking out the doorway, Black heard voices in the hallway as the nurse stopped to talk with another woman.

[color=#ffffff]“Sheriff? He’s awake now if you still have questions.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Ah, good, I was beginning to think Billy Idol was in there, going to sleep a whole fortnight.”[/color] A familiar voice rang out before her figure appeared in the doorway of the small hospital room.

[color=#ffffff]“Ah, Agent, you’re awake.”[/color] Sheriff Nancy smiled, [color=#ffffff]“Crumbled you like a dried leaf, didn’t he?”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“Try not to take so much joy in my pain, bird.” [/color]

[color=#ffffff]“T’would seem the big lad flew off to Metropolis,”[/color] The Sheriff nodded towards the television set in the corner of the room. Her lips smacking together as she obnoxiously chewed on a piece of gum like an old heifer with its cud. 

[color=#ffffff]“Big black and red blur came in outta nowhere then took off with the other alien. Made real short work of the biker from hell. Damn thing near looked like Ozzy had a baby with Jason Momoa, and don’t get me wrong, I love me some Momoa. Khal Drogo and me, whew, let’s just say I got my money’s worth outta HBO.” [/color]

[color=#76689b]“Sheriff,”[/color] Black rubbed his temples furiously, while opening and closing his eyes, [color=#76689b]“Mate, I am begging you to stop.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Anyways, I guess you’ll be leaving Smallville.”[/color] The Sheriff smiled, [color=#ffffff]“Big shot and all that, little town ain’t of any interest now that we don’t have an alien here.”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“Sorry, luv, but I’m afraid that my orders-” [/color]Black was suddenly interrupted as his watch began to beep.

[color=#76689b]“Director?”[/color] Black asked, activating his earpiece.

[color=#ffffff]“I need you in Metropolis for clean up. Damage Control is already moving in, and we can’t have them interfering with our scene. I need to know everything we can about the two aliens. Make yourself available for transmission and let me know when we can transmit you from Smallville to Metropolis.”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“Will do, Sir.” [/color]Black nodded, ending the call before his eyes were drawn back to the television as it replayed the scene from earlier again. A small smirk formed on his face as he watched the scene unfold before the alien known as the Blur intervened, taking the other alien to who knows where.

The people, no doubt, were expecting the so-called ‘Heroes of New York’ to unite again to save the day. But as far as S.W.O.R.D. was concerned, the group was scattered. A new player, however, was certainly liable to generate chatter. Especially one moving faster than the human eye. There had only been rumours of one other such being in the American Midwest, but unfortunately, they fell outside of S.W.O.R.D.'s jurisdiction.

It struck the agent as odd that the alien, despite his human appearance, would care enough to control the field of battle and remove Lobo from the scene. Odder still, neither had been seen since their removal from Metropolis’ Planet Square. Though it had only been a couple of hours, Black had no way of predicting where the alien would appear next or what he would want.

[color=#ffffff]“Y’know, his first words were ‘I am Kal-El of Krypton’.”[/color] The Sheriff broke the silence, seemingly reading Black’s mind.

[i][color=#76689b]Ironic[/color][color=#ff354d].[/color][/i]

[color=#ffffff]“He said something about by the orders of a General Zod we were to kneel before him,”[/color] Nancy added, turning to look at Black, [color=#ffffff]“I may not like you fed, but I know you’re doing what you can to keep us from ‘kneeling’ so if you need anything else-”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“Won’t be necessary, Sheriff,”[/color] Black smiled, [color=#76689b]“I’m needed in Metropolis.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Well, lookit me over here just blabbering like a cicada in June.”[/color] The Sheriff smiled, [color=#ffffff]“Pleasure having you here, Agent, don’t let it hit ya where the good Lord split ya.”[/color] 

Black wryly nodded his adieu, grabbing his coat off a nearby hanger before walking out of the hospital. Tapping his watch as he moved into the middle of the parking lot. He stopped, waiting for transmission before suddenly vanishing in a blinding flash of cerulean. 

Transmission was always disorientating. He felt his stomach lurch as he arrived in Metropolis. Taking a moment to regain his bearings, Black surveyed the scene, immediately noticing the black SUVs belonging to Damage Control. To his surprise, Agent Coulson was nowhere to be seen; instead, another familiar face was leading the charge. Standing in the middle of Planet Square, arguing with Luthorcorp officials was Agent Sitwell. 

[color=#76689b]“Jasper, mate, you can’t be here.”[/color] Black started, stepping over the yellow tape as he confronted the other agent. [color=#76689b]“They both fell from the sky, that’s got S.W.O.R.D. written all over it.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“It would have, if Luthor’s secret police hadn’t gotten involved. The minute his registered super and hit squad rode in on their high horses, this became Damage Control’s issue.”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“That’s fine, you can have Luthor. I don’t want to deal with that smug bastard anyway.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“I’ll flip you for it,”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“Nah, mate,”[/color] Black smiled, [color=#76689b]“This one’s on the house, I just want to know where the aliens went.” [/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Can’t say I know for certain, but our guys are detecting residual P.L.O.T. energy in the region.”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“Are you saying the alien’s an anachronism?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“At least one of them, else we have a third party in play here.”[/color] Sitwell replied,[color=#ffffff] “‘Course you do realize if he’s an anachronism-”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“It’s an inter-departmental issue and the highest priority.”[/color] Black deadpanned, “[color=#76689b]Yeah mate, love that for us.”[/color] He replied, tapping his watch quickly before scanning the area. Sure enough, just as Sitwell had said, there were Phased Levels of Oscillating Temporal Energy present in the immediate area, though they were waning quickly. With another quick tap on his watch, Black opened a channel to S.W.O.R.D.

[color=#76689b]“Brother Eye, can you track this P.L.O.T. signature?”[/color]

[color=#efefef]“Analyzing. One moment, please.”[/color] The robotic voice replied before elevator music began to play over Black’s earpiece. He was suddenly reminded of his splitting headache.

[color=#efefef]“One match. Location: United States of America, Kansas, Smallville.”[/color] Brother Eye replied. [color=#efefef]“Do you wish to transmit?”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“I’m starting to feel like a bloody boomerang.”[/color]

[color=#efefef]“Agent, do you wish to transmit?”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“Get it over with.”[/color]

[color=#efefef]“I require an affirmative answer.”[/color]

[color=#76689b]“Yes! You damn bastard of a machine.”[/color]

[color=#efefef]“Transmission initiated.”[/color] And within seconds, Manchester Black found himself back where he had just come from.

[color=#76689b]“What no welcoming party?”[/color] Black muttered to himself.

[color=#ffffff]“Shut the front door! Agent Black?”[/color]

[i][color=#76689b]Damnit.[/color][/i]

Yet again, Manchester Black had a splitting headache.[/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]