Ben 10: Justice Incarnate Chapter 36 (Early Preview) (Patreon)

Chapter 36: The Main Man Part 6

With Superman

As the duo continued trying to find the exit, they heard a crash. 

Superman liked to assume that it was Ark with some sort of escape plan, but he figured his luck wasn’t that great. “Maybe it’s another way out.”

Lobo, on the other hand, took it in stride and ran toward the sound. It would be more fun. 

As they drew closer, a new voice echoed. “Don’t bet on it.”

Superman and Lobo immediately tensed, scanning the trees.

Then came the order. "Move in, boys. Without their powers, these wimps are dead meat."

Lobo snarled. Superman’s fists clenched.

Without hesitation, they took off into the foliage. But it was too late.

Bright flashes of laser fire rained down from above, forcing them to skid to a halt. Energy bolts sizzled through the air, carving glowing trails into the trees.

Superman and Lobo looked up—and there they were.

Gnaww and his bounty hunters crouched on high branches, weapons aimed directly at them.

"Let's go get ‘em."

The hunters leaped down, landing in a half-circle formation around their prey.

Blasters hummed, ready to fire.

Superman and Lobo backed up slightly, assessing the danger. Outnumbered. Still weakened. Not ideal.

With that, Superman and Lobo sprinted through the undergrowth.

Behind them, footsteps and low growls echoed—the bounty hunters were closing in.

Lobo grinned at Superman as they leaped over a fallen alien tree. "Nothin' like bein' chased through a jungle by a bunch of space geeks, huh, Supes?"

Superman kept his focus forward. "They wouldn't be chasing us if someone hadn't made half the galaxy want them dead."

Lobo snorted. "Hey, I ain't here to make friends. I'm here to get paid!"

A burst of laser fire scorched past them, instantly melting a nearby tree trunk.

"Move!" Superman yelled, grabbing Lobo by the arm and pulling him forward as the tree collapsed behind them with a loud crash.

The bounty hunters weren’t far behind. Gnaww, leading the charge, raised his plasma rifle and barked orders to his men.

"Cut 'em off! I want that Czarnian alive—the Kryptonian’s just a bonus!"

Two alien hunters, both reptilian, split off to flank their targets, weaving through the thick foliage with predatory grace. A hulking brute in power armor crashed through the underbrush, firing rapid-fire energy rounds in their direction, forcing Superman and Lobo to duck behind cover.

Lobo peeked out from behind a tree, his red eyes gleaming. "Alright, these clowns are startin’ to tick me off."

Superman ignored him, already scanning the terrain. His X-ray vision spotted a large ravine just a hundred yards ahead—a sheer drop into the lower part of the biome.

"We need to keep moving!" Superman said.

Lobo popped his neck and grinned. "Or we make a stand. Let’s see how tough these geeks really are."

Superman grabbed him by the wrist. "No time for that! Move!"

Before Lobo could argue, Superman yanked him forward just as another explosion ripped through the trees, sending leaves and debris raining down. The two bolted toward the ravine, leaping over twisted alien roots and dodging stun bolts from the bounty hunters’ weapons.

Gnaww, seeing where they were headed, growled into his comms.

"They're gonna jump! Cut 'em off!"

Superman and Lobo reached the ravine's edge, looking down into the mist-filled abyss below.

Lobo crossed his arms. "You sure about this, Blue?"

Superman clenched his fists as the bounty hunters closed in. "Do you have a better idea?"

Lobo grinned. "Yeah. Fight 'em!"

Superman sighed. "We’re jumping."

Lobo rolled his eyes. "Fine, but if I break anything, I’m takin’ it outta your hide!"

With that, the two leaped off the edge just as a barrage of plasma bolts shredded the ground where they once stood.

As they plummeted into the mist below, Gnaww and his hunters skidded to a stop at the edge.

Gnaww growled, tightening his grip on his rifle. "They’re not gettin’ away that easy. After them!"

#

With Ark

Ark sprinted down the corridor as alarms blared. The bounty hunters had breached the hull. Meanwhile, the Preserver’s bots were diverted to assist in maintaining life support systems. If this ship went down, so did every last species trapped in the Preserver’s collection.

He decided to opt in on some big guns with a firefight waiting ahead. "Time to show Lobo who the real Main Man is."

A surge of green energy engulfed his body. His muscles expanded, and his skin paled to chalk white. His usual brown hair darkened and grew wild, cascading past his shoulders in a jet-black mane. His eyes burned a deep crimson red.

His new Czarnian body was unlike Lobo's. It wasn’t as brutish, optimized to the peak of what a Czarnian could be.

Ben flexed his new muscles with a wicked grin. "Oh yeah. This’ll do."

A heavy thud echoed from down the hall—incoming intruders.

Ark cracked his knuckles and took a fighting stance. These poor fools were about to feel the pain. "Alright, boys," he muttered. "Get a load of me." Ark charged toward the breach zone.

Now, every good form needed a name. "Punk Buster. Yeah, that fits."

He could hear muffled voices ahead.

More bounty hunters were right there

"Time to break this new form in." He leaped forward, smashing through the brush like a charging beast.

The bounty hunters barely had time to react before Punk Buster landed in their midst like a wrecking ball.

The first hunter turned, wide-eyed. "What the—?"

Punk Buster grabbed him by the arm, lifted him off the ground, and slammed him straight into another hunter, sending both crashing into a tree.

The third bounty hunter aimed his blaster—but Punk Buster was too fast. He ripped a massive branch off a tree and swatted the gun out of his hands like a baseball bat, sending the weapon spinning into the jungle.

Before the hunter could react, Punk Buster grabbed him by the collar and headbutted him, knocking him out cold.

The remaining hunters hesitated, watching their squad drop like rag dolls.

Punk Buster grinned, eyes wild.

"C’mon, boys. I’m just getting warmed up."

The bounty hunters opened fire.

Big mistake.

With a laugh, Punk Buster charged forward.

The bounty hunters opened fire, their plasma bolts scorching through the air.

But Punk Buster was already moving.

He dodged left, rolling under a volley of blasts, then sidestepped right, avoiding another hail of fire. "Gonna have to do better than that, chumps!" he taunted.

The hunters spread out, trying to box him in. Their leader, an insectoid alien, barked orders. "Flank him! Aim for the head!"

Two hunters rushed in from the sides, brandishing electrified batons.

Punk Buster grinned. "Oh, you wanna get close? Fine by me!"

The first hunter lunged, swinging his baton—Punk Buster caught it mid-swing, hisgrip tightening until the metal groaned and bent in his hand.

The bounty hunter’s eyes widened.

"Uh—"

Punk Buster yanked the baton away and backhanded the guy across the face, sending him flying through the underbrush.

The second hunter tried to take advantage, coming from behind with a two-handed strike to the back of Punk Buster’s skull.

It connected.

But Punk Buster didn’t even flinch.

The hunter froze. "Oh no."

Punk Buster slowly turned his head, cracking his neck with a sickening pop. He smirked. "My turn."

He grabbed the hunter by the chest plate, lifted him overhead, and powerbombed him straight into the jungle floor, leaving a crater where he landed.

Three down.

The remaining bounty hunters were hesitating now, their fingers twitching over their triggers.

Punk Buster grinned and spread his arms wide, daring them to attack.

"C’mon, I thought you fraggers were tough!"

Their leader snarled. "All units, fire everything!"

A barrage of plasma bolts filled the air.

Punk Buster charged straight through it.

The first shots hit, but he soaked up the energy like raindrops.

He smashed through a fallen tree, shoulder-checked a bounty hunter so hard his armor dented, and then grabbed another by the leg, spinning him like a ragdoll before hurling him through a boulder.

The insectoid leader pulled out a pair of energy blades, his mandibles clicking in frustration. "Enough! I’ll carve you apart myself!"

Punk Buster laughed. "Oh, finally! Someone with a spine!"

The insectoid warrior darted in, slashing blades glowing with plasma energy, aiming for Punk Buster’s vital points.

Punk Buster ducked, let the first blade pass over his head, then parried the second with his forearm, causing a shower of sparks.

Punk Buster slammed his fist into the insectoid’s gut, lifting him off the ground, then delivered an uppercut that sent him flying.

The leader hit a tree trunk so hard, it cracked in half.

Punk Buster stood in the middle of the carnage, bounty hunters groaning in pain around him, the jungle now eerily quiet. He rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles again. "Man, I love this form."

#

With Superman

Superman and Lobo tore through the forest, weaving between trees and dodging blaster fire.

The bounty hunters were relentless as they pushed through the undergrowth.

From behind them, a gruff voice called out—Gnaww.

"Hey, Lobo! Remember us?"

Lobo rolled his eyes as he ducked under a low-hanging branch. "Oh, sure! How could I forget the guys who tried to steal my bounty?"

Superman glanced at him. "You're really not helping!"

A fresh round of laser fire shredded the trees around them.

They broke into a clearing and spotted a building ahead.

"Cover!" Superman shouted.

The two leaped behind a large boulder, blaster fire impacting the rock.

Superman turned to Lobo. "Friends of yours?"

Lobo gave a toothy grin. "My bridge club."

Before Superman could respond, Sqweek wriggled out of Lobo’s grip. "It’s my brother, Gnaww! He’s come to rescue me!"

Lobo snorted and flicked him onto the dirt. "In your dreams, Sqweek."

Gnaww and his hunters began closing in on the other side of the rock. "We followed your bike’s ion trail, Lobo," Gnaww taunted. "It was stronger than your breath."

Lobo peeked over the rock. "Hey, watch what you say about my bike."

The moment he said it, an energy bolt struck him square in the forehead.

Lobo grunted as his head snapped back, stumbling dazedly before Superman grabbed him by the jacket and yanked him back down.

Superman exhaled sharply. "We’re no match for their weapons."

Lobo shook his head, rubbing his temple as he spat on the ground. "Tell me about it."

Superman narrowed his eyes, using his X-ray vision to scan their surroundings. He spotted Gnaww’s forces spreading out through the trees.

"They’re trying to surround us," Superman muttered.

Lobo grinned. "At least I’ll go down fragging."

Superman ignored him, shifting his gaze to the structure nearby. His vision pierced through the walls, spotting something in the branches of a massive tree inside. His eyes widened slightly. "Wait. I see something else. It’s…"

Lobo leaned forward eagerly. "What? What?"

Superman’s gaze flickered back to the hunters. Then to Lobo.

"Get to the docking bay. I’ll hold them off here."

Lobo scoffed. "Your funeral, Clyde."

Without hesitation, he grabbed Sqweek by the scruff of his neck, hoisting him up like a sack of potatoes before darting toward the tree line.

#

With Lobo

Lobo did his best to sneak away with Superman being a distraction. Sqweek flailed wildly in his grip.

"Slow down, ya maniac!" Sqweek squealed.

Lobo didn’t even glance down. "Shut it, furball. We’re almost at the docking bay—then I’m cashin’ you in and buyin’ myself the biggest fraggin’ drink this galaxy’s got."

Sqweek groaned, but before he could argue, Lobo skidded to a halt

A separate group of armed bounty hunters came from the trees.

At the front of the pack stood a massive reptilian alien, covered in thick scales with a hulking build. 

"Ah, Lobo. I thought Gnaww had you pinned up ahead."

Lobo raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "What? Wimp can’t bring me in on his own? He has to bring in the calvary."

The reptilian bounty hunter grinned. "Your reputation of fighting large numbers peaks for themselves. Nothing wrong with a precaution."

Lobo snorted. "Heh. You guys know that and still took the job?"

“Yup.” The hunters prepared to fire. 

"This is your last chance, Lobo!" another hunter barked.

Lobo glanced down at Sqweek, who looked increasingly nervous.

"Time to stash the goods." Lobo stuffed Sqweek into one of the massive pockets of his biker vest, muffling the alien’s indignant protests.

"Hey! I’m not luggage!" Sqweek echoed from the pocket.

Lobo cracked his knuckles. "Alright, boys. Let’s dance."

Lobo charged forward.

The reptilian leader raised his blaster—but Lobo was already there.

With a massive uppercut, Lobo sent the hunter flying backward, slamming him into a tree with a thunderous crack.

The other bounty hunters opened fire, but Lobo zigzagged between them, closing the distance fast.

"Aww, c’mon! That all you got?!" he taunted, grabbing one hunter by the collar and swinging him like a club into another.

THWACK! Both aliens crashed into a pile.

A sniper from up in the trees aimed carefully—but Lobo spotted him instantly.

"Tsk, tsk. No peepin’ toms."

Lobo grabbed a massive chunk of rock from the ground and hurled it at the sniper’s perch. The hunter tumbled down, landing hard with a grunt.

One of the bounty hunters pulled out a plasma blade, charging. "You’re DEAD, Lobo!"

Lobo simply sidestepped the attack and grabbed the hunter’s wrist mid-swing, twisting it until the blade dropped.

"Cute. Real cute."

With a brutal headbutt, Lobo sent the bounty hunter sprawling, his nose clearly broken.

Sqweek’s muffled voice emerged from Lobo’s vest. "Can you PLEASE be careful?! I’m in here!"

Lobo chuckled. "Quit yer whinin'. I’m winnin’ this fight for you, ain’t I?"

The reptilian leader groaned as he staggered back to his feet.

Lobo lunged, grabbing the blaster and crushing it in his hand like tin foil. Then, he hoisted the reptilian alien into the air with one hand.

"Tell Gnaww," Lobo sneered, "if he wants me that bad, he’s gonna have to do better than you lot."

He hurled the hunter into a nearby tree, knocking him out cold.

The clearing was now littered with unconscious bounty hunters, groaning and twitching.

Lobo reached into his vest pocket and yanked out Sqweek, who was now dizzy and covered in bits of dirt.

"Still in one piece?" Lobo asked smugly.

Sqweek groaned. "I think I’m gonna hurl."

Lobo grinned wide. "Good. That means you’re fine."

#

After about a minute of running, he heard more gunfire up ahead. His brow furrowed as he ducked behind a thick tree trunk, peering into the clearing. “What the frag…?”

Right there, in the middle of a frenzied battle, was what looked like… himself—or at least another Czarnian—laying waste to a group of bounty hunters.

Ben, in his Punk Buster form, was in the middle of slamming two bounty hunters together like action figures, the CRACK of armor echoing through the clearing. He swung a massive bounty hunter into a tree and turned just in time to catch a punch from another.

The hunters scrambled, clearly terrified, some yelling:

"It's Lobo!""I thought there was only one!""We’re dead!"

Lobo’s red eyes twitched in pure rage.

“That... ain’t me.”

The sight of another Czarnian—especially one being mistaken for him—was enough to push Lobo over the edge.

With a growl, he tossed Sqweek aside (who landed in a bush with a muffled yelp) and stomped into the clearing. He didn’t bother with subtlety, immediately swatting a smaller bounty hunter out of the way like a fly, sending the poor sap flying into the treetops.

Punk Buster heard the impact and the low, guttural growl behind him. He turned, dusting off his hands, and found himself face-to-face with a furious Lobo.

Ben’s crimson Czarnian eyes widened.

"Oh… it’s you."

Lobo’s teeth were clenched so hard they could’ve cracked steel. "Who the hell are you?!"

Punk Buster smirked. "Punk Buster."

Lobo scoffed, eyes narrowing. "That’s a dumb name."

Ben crossed his arms. "No more dumb than Lobo."

Lobo’s brow twitched. "I thought I killed the rest of us," he snarled, pacing closer, muscles flexing.

Punk Buster chuckled. "Well, looks like you didn’t do a good job."

Lobo stopped cold, his fists trembling with rage. "What’d you say?"

Ben stood his ground, cocky grin unwavering. "You tried to kill us all, but I’m standing right here, Bozo."

Lobo raised a brow, sizing him up. "You’re not like the other pansies either… you’re like me."

Punk Buster huffed. "Nah, I’m better. Granted, you don’t exactly set a high bar."

Lobo’s veins bulged as he pointed a gloved finger at Punk Buster. "That’s it. I’m takin’ you down, you son of a bastich!"

Punk Buster took a fighting stance. "Bring it!"

#

With Superman

Superman closed the distance between him and one of Gnaww’s men. With a powerful right hook, Superman sent the bounty hunter flying backward, knocking him out cold.

Superman dashed toward the nearby building, placing his hands on the heavy doors. He strained against the weight and forced them open.

The moment he stepped inside, a blaster bolt struck Superman in the back, propelled him forward and onto the ground.

Superman rolled onto his back, looking up to see Gnaww and the other two bounty hunters standing over him.

Gnaww sneered. "Now, what were you up to?"

A sharp squawk echoed from deeper inside the building.

Gnaww’s sneer turned into a knowing grin. "Oh, I get it. You were gonna sic one of the Preserver’s bloodthirsty beasts on us. Clever, Kryptonian." He glanced back at his crew, chuckling. "Well, maybe we’ll just let whatever’s in there rip into you instead."

Superman shook his head. "You don’t want to do that."

Gnaww’s grin widened. "Oh, yes we do. Boys—throw him in."

The two bounty hunters grabbed Superman by the arms and heaved him through the doorway.

Superman grunted as he slammed into a thick tree as he slumped to the ground.

Then came another sound.

There was a series of squawks. From the brush, a round bird with tiny wings waddled into view. It blinked its large, beady eyes at the newcomers.

Gnaww frowned. "That’s a bloodthirsty beast?"

Superman slowly sat up. "Not quite. It’s a dodo. From Earth."

The dodo blinked again and waddled closer. Superman gently petted its feathery head, the bird leaning into his touch.

Gnaww’s expression twisted in confusion. "Earth?"

Superman didn’t answer. Instead, he took in a deep breath—and smiled.

The warmth of artificial yellow sunlight from the habitat’s overhead lamps soaked into his skin.

His power surged back.

Gnaww's face paled as he took a step back. "Uh-oh."

Superman opened his eyes—bright with energy.

Superman launched forward, a blur of red and blue.

With a single strike, he sent one hunter flying across the room.

Superman grabbed a blaster and crushed it in his grip, sending one sprawling.

Gnaww stumbled backward, raising his weapon. "Now, hold on—"

With a final, powerful blow, Superman sent Gnaww crashing through the doors, knocking him out cold.

Breathing steadily, Superman dusted himself off and glanced back at the dodo, which continued to waddle around, oblivious to the chaos.

Superman smiled. "Thanks for the recharge, little guy."

#

With Punk Buster and Lobo

Lobo and Punk Buster had thrown any semblance of restraint out the window.

The fight had gone from brutal to downright cartoonish.

Punk Buster lunged forward, landing a devastating uppercut to Lobo’s jaw that sent him hurtling into the sky, vanishing past the treetops with a faint twinkle. He dusted off his hands, smirking.

“Guess he couldn’t handle the—”

THOOM!

Lobo crashed back down like a meteor, landing right on top of Punk Buster, flattening him into the dirt.

“—heat.” Ark’s voice was muffled from beneath Lobo.

Lobo stood up, wiping dust from his vest. “Heh. Ya almost had me there.”

Punk Buster’s flattened body snapped back into shape. “Oh, it’s on now.”

Punk Buster grabbed a massive alien tree, uprooted it with ease, and swung it like a baseball bat. Lobo barely managed to turn before the tree connected with his face, sending him sailing across the clearing, smashing through five more trees like paper.

Lobo grabbed his own neck, and twisted it back into place with a satisfying crack. “Cute trick, frag-face!”

He pulled out his trademark hooked chain, whirling it above his head before tossing it toward Punk Buster. The hook snagged Ben’s ankle, and with a mighty tug, Lobo swung him over his head like a ragdoll before slamming him into the ground—again and again and again—leaving behind a neat line of Punk Buster-shaped craters.

“You done?” Ark grunted, wiping the dirt from his face.

Lobo pulled out a gun he stole off the other hunters. “Nope.”

BOOM!

The shot hit Punk Buster square in the chest, launching him through the air like a rocket. He smashed into a cliff wall, leaving a perfectly outlined hole in his shape.

The smoking remains of Punk Buster staggered out from the hole. He patted his body down, flames flickering from his shoulders. “Gotta admit, that tickled.”

The two charged at each other, fists raised.

Their punches collided mid-air.

Lobo bit down on Punk Buster’s arm, tearing off a chunk of muscle and spitting it out.

Punk Buster responded by grabbing Lobo’s head and twisting it completely backward, only for Lobo to snap it back with a grin.

“We’re just getting started!”

“Bring it, bastich!”

It was brutal, ridiculous, and somehow… kind of fun.

#

With Superman

Superman finished estraining the last of the bounty hunters who had ambushed him earlier. Brushing dust off his chest, Superman took flight, soaring toward the hangar, where his ship was hopefully still intact.

But then, in the clearing below, something caught his eye.

Lobo was there. But he wasn’t alone. He was fighting… himself?

Superman slowed. Around them, dozens of bounty hunters lay unconscious.

The two Lobos were locked in a violent, chaotic struggle, fists flying, limbs regenerating, and whole trees being flattened under their weight.

“I don’t have time for this…” Superman muttered under his breath.

He shot down between the two with a burst of speed and landed hard.

Both Lobos froze, their fists inches from colliding again, and glared at Superman.

Superman pushed them apart, his hands outstretched, one palm on each chest. “Enough! Both of you!”

But as he glanced at the Lobo on his left, something caught his attention—a small but familiar hourglass symbol glowing on his chest plate. Superman blinked. “Ark?” Since when could he do that? They had just met Lobo today.

The Lobo look-alike grinned wide, flashing sharp Czarnian teeth. “Yup, but you can call me Punk Buster.”

Lobo’s eyes widened. “Wait a minute… You’re the shapeshifter?! Since when could you turn into a fraggin’ Czarnian?!”

Punk Buster’s grin widened. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Lobo snarled, veins bulging with rage. “I’ll tear that smug grin off your—”

“Enough!” Superman cut him off. “We need to get out of here.”

Punk Buster stepped back slightly, arms crossed, a smirk still on his face. “Already got that taken care of, Supes.”

Superman raised an eyebrow. “You did?”

“Yup. I cut a deal with the Preserver.”

Lobo’s head snapped toward Punk Buster. “You did what?!” he bellowed.

Superman stepped between them again, his brow furrowed. “Hold on. What kind of deal?”

Punk Buster’s red Czarnian eyes gleamed with mischief. “One where everyone wins.”

Superman sighed, already dreading whatever this “deal” entailed.

Lobo’s fists clenched, but even he paused. “You better explain fast, punk.”

Punk Buster just smirked wider. “Oh, it’s a good one. Trust me.”

#

Superman, Punk Buster, and Lobo marched toward the hangar bay, each dragging or carrying subdued bounty hunters behind them. During this time, Ark gave the gist of the deal that guaranteed their freedom.

Lobo had three unconscious hunters slung over his shoulders, one by the ankle and two tied together with his chain. Punk Buster carried a heap of knocked-out thugs stacked like firewood while Superman hovered slightly above the ground, gently floating a bundle of bound bounty hunters.

As they approached the massive hangar, the Preserver stepped forward, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture. “I owe you all an apology. It was never my intention to harm sentient beings like yourselves. I only wished to preserve what was unique in the universe—but I realize now I crossed a line.”

Superman’s jaw tightened. “I can’t exactly say all is forgiven.”

Lobo grumbled, still itching for a fight. “I’m two seconds from making a new exhibit outta you, Wrinkles.”

The Preserver glanced at Punk Buster.

“However, thanks to the intervention of Ark, I found a new direction for my efforts. This allows me to continue my preservation efforts without imprisoning beings like yourselves. Repopulation is possible.”

“So, you’re helping his animals bang?” huffed Lobo.

Punk Buster rolled his eyes. “That’s a crude way of saying it, yes.”

Superman’s brow furrowed, glancing at Punk Buster. “Ark? You’re really trusting this guy?”

Punk Buster crossed his arms and smirked. “Yup. I made sure it’s a win-win. No more snatching sentient species. Plus, we’re all free to go.”

Superman sighed. “I don’t like it. But if it gets us out of here…”

Lobo rolled his eyes, slinging Sqweek over his shoulder. “Took long enough. I got a bounty to cash in, and I’m sick of this zoo.” He then started loading the last of the unconscious bounty hunters into Gnaww’s stolen ship. His prized spacehog was already securely strapped inside the cargo hold

Sqweek, still bound and gagged, dangled upside down from a net tied to one of the rafters, struggling weakly.

Lobo wiped his hands clean on his vest and smirked at his handiwork. “All set. Time to go cash in this bounty and snag me a drink bigger than my head.”

But before heading up the ramp, Lobo turned back toward the Preserver, who was overseeing the final moments of the departure alongside Superman and Punk Buster.

He paused, shooting a glance at Punk Buster.

“But I’m keepin’ my eye on you, shapeshifter. Fraggin’ weird seeing another me runnin’ around.”

Punk Buster chuckled. “You’re not that special, Lobo.”

Lobo snarled but chose not to punch him—yet.

“See ya around, Supes. And you…” he pointed at Punk Buster, “…next time we meet, I’m makin’ sure only one Czarnian walks away. Me.”

Punk Buster grinned. “Looking forward to it, Bozo.”

Lobo’s grin then widened.

“Hey, Wrinkles!”

The Preserver barely had time to turn before Lobo’s massive fist connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling backward onto the hangar floor with a resounding thud.

“That’s for the zoo, ya galactic weirdo.”

Lobo chuckled, dusted off his hands, and marched up the ramp of Gnaww’s ship, the engines already starting to hum beneath his feet.

Superman and Punk Buster exchanged a quick glance before rushing over to the fallen Preserver.

Superman extended his hand, pulling the alien up. “You alright?”

The Preserver groaned, rubbing his bruised jaw. “I should have expected that.”

Gnaww’s ship lifted off and rocketed into space. Even from this distance, they could faintly hear Lobo’s triumphant whoop.

#

Later

Planet Spewge

Lobo reclined in a luxurious yet tacky chair, legs propped up on a makeshift footrest, holding a massive frosted mug filled with some glowing alien brew. He took a long swig, foam trailing down his chin, before slamming the mug onto a nearby table. “And that’s how come I was so late getting back here, Spewgie,” Lobo said, leaning back with a smug grin.

Emperor Spewge lounged lazily in an enormous pool of murky water. Sqweek was reluctantly scrubbing Spewge’s slimy body with an oversized brush, clearly miserable.

The Emperor took a big gulp of the bathwater—then spat it out in a violent spray.

“I knew you’d never let me down, Lobo, despite rumors to the contrary,” Spewge sneered, his eyes narrowing at the chained-up bounty hunters.

Gnaww, shackled and covered in suds, was mopping bitterly near the pool, while another clumsy bounty hunter accidentally splashed dirty water onto the Emperor’s slime-coated form.

Spewge growled and flicked his hand, sending a splash of slimy water right at Gnaww’s face.

“Buncha morons,” Spewge muttered before turning his attention back to Lobo.

He shifted in his slimy pool. “But what about Superman, the shapeshifter, and the Preserver?”

Lobo took another long swig of his drink before answering, his voice dripping with indifference.

“Me? I’d have offed that Preserver freak for locking me up. But Supes and the shapeshifter convinced me it wasn’t worth my time.”

Spewge raised a slimy brow. “Convinced you?”

Lobo shrugged. “Yeah, Supes is a sucker for all that ‘non-violence’ crap. Couldn’t stop yammering about second chances and all that. And the shapeshifter—Ark or Punk Buster or whatever—he’s got a soft spot for ‘hard luck cases.’”

He twirled his finger in the air mockingly. “Boo-hoo, last of his kind, yadda yadda. They felt sorry for the guy.”

Spewge snorted, slime bubbles popping at the corners of his mouth. “Hah! Pathetic.”

Lobo chuckled. “Yeah, well, I got my payday. That’s all that matters.”

He lifted his mug, taking another swig before glancing over at Gnaww and the other bounty hunters still scrubbing the filth-covered floor.

“Oh, and thanks for giving me their cut of the bounty too. Fraggin’ amateurs didn’t deserve it.”

Spewge cackled, causing a ripple through his slime pool. “You always deliver, Lobo.”

Lobo smirked, kicking back in his chair. “Dang straight. I’m the Main Man.”

Sqweek, still scrubbing Spewge’s back, muttered under his breath. “You’re also a grade-A bastich…”

Lobo raised his mug in toast, ignoring the comment. “To another job well done!”

Spewge laughed heartily, slime splashing everywhere.

#

Earlier

Superman made the final adjustments to his ship. With the help of the Preserver’s drones, the structural damage had been repaired. His spacecraft was ready for the journey back to Earth.

One of the drones hovered beside him, extending a mechanical limb to assist in reconnecting a circuit.

“Thanks,” Superman said, tightening the last panel into place. 

Through the window of the Preserver’s lab, he saw Ark was still chatting animatedly with the Preserver. 

Just as Superman started walking over to see what they were up to, the lab doors hissed open.

Ark and the Preserver stepped out.

Superman raised a brow but decided not to pry. “I’m ready to head back to Earth.”

Ark nodded. “Cool. I’ll meet you back there soon. I’ve got to iron out some of the details regarding our little agreement.”

Superman crossed his arms. “You’re sure about this deal?”

Ark grinned, giving a confident double thumbs-up. “Trust me, Supes. Everything’s under control.”

Before Superman could respond, the Preserver stepped forward, raising a hand. With a soft wave, one of his drones floated into view, carrying a transparent containment unit.

Inside, Superman immediately recognized the white-feathered dodo he had seen earlier in the Earth habitat—the one that had unknowingly helped him recharge under the artificial yellow sunlight.

But now, there were two dodos.

One male and one female.

Superman blinked in surprise. “I only saw one dodo in the habitat... Did I miss the other?”

The Preserver smiled gently, bowing his head. “No, Superman. There was only one. But thanks to Ark’s assistance, we were able to replicate its genetic material and create a compatible mate.”

Superman glanced at Ark, who shrugged with a mischievous grin.

The Preserver continued, “Please, accept them as a token of my apology for the inconvenience I’ve caused. Ark has assured me that you would do well in acclimating the last of the dodo species to a new environment on Earth.”

Superman narrowed his eyes slightly at Ark. “He did, did he?”

Ark nodded enthusiastically, still in his Punk Buster form, and gave Superman another pair of thumbs-up.

Superman sighed but couldn’t help the small smile forming. “Right… I think I can whip something up. They’re herbivores, after all. Shouldn’t be too hard.”

The two dodos fluffed their feathers inside the containment unit, one pecking curiously at the glass while the other waddled in circles.

Superman turned back to Ark, giving him a final glance. “Make sure this deal holds up, Ark. I don’t want to be called back here because something went sideways.”

Ark grinned. “Don’t worry, Supes. I’ve got it handled.”

Superman gave a final nod, lifting the containment unit into his ship. “I’ll see you back on Earth. The League is going to want a full debrief on this mess.”

“Yeah… That’ll be interesting.”

Superman boarded his ship, and moments later, the craft lifted off from the hangar, soaring back to Earth.

#

The Preserver’s deck projected a three-dimensional model of Earth, slowly rotating, highlighting various landmasses and oceanic regions.

Ark and the Preserver, who observed the map. Ark swiped his hand through the air, zooming into the Pacific Ocean. He pointed at a small, uninhabited island.

“Right here. This island will be a safe zone.”

The Preserver stroked his chin thoughtfully. “It could work. But why this specific location?”

Ark leaned in closer. “It’s remote and isolated. Perfect for keeping everything contained.” He paused, then added sternly, “But it’s herbivores only. No predators, nothing aggressive. And nothing that can fly or swim off the island.”

The Preserver raised a brow. “Why such specific limitations?”

Ark sighed. “Because I’m not setting up a Jurassic Park scenario here.”

The Preserver tilted his head. “Jurassic Park? I am unfamiliar with this place.”

Ark chuckled. “Just trust me—it’s bad. Carnivores got loose. You can fit the pieces from there.”

The Preserver nodded slowly. “Very well. No predators. Only herbivores.”

Ark smiled, tapping the rotating island on the hologram. “Good. We’ll start small with some mammals.”