a very special second birthday ((tag Clark))

[slayers_desire]

It is Jonathan's second birthday. Unlike last year, where a group of friends were invited to the apartment, April has favored for a family event.

The decorations are simple, and tasteful around the apartment. Jonathan is sitting among a few opened presents, playing with the wrapping paper. (Ignoring the toys that were in the boxes for the time being).

April is watching Jonathan with a smile, tilting her head slightly for a moment. This is such a nice moment, with the three of them together.

Comments

[slayers_desire]

"Daddy has to go out and help innocents sweetie. But momma is staying with you."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Don't worry, buddy. I'll be back soon." Clark kisses their son on the forehead, then turns to the assembled heroes. "Solaris is back. We need to stop him for good."

"If we're going into space, I can't fly," Cyborg points out.

Superman hands him the Legion ring. "You can now."

[slayers_desire]

April nervously bites her lip. She is trying to be strong, for Jonathan, for her husband. But she is also a little emotional too.

"Be safe."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark turns to her, and moves to give her a goodbye kiss. It's too early to tell if the new pregnancy is affecting her hormones, but regardless, this is something that would be upsetting anyway. And he wants to do what he can to comfort her before they leave to face Solaris.

"I'll be back. We all will."

[slayers_desire]

"I know you will." April always keeps the faith. Keeps that hope in her heart. "I will be keeping an eye on you."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

He smiles at her, and leans his forehead against hers. "I'm counting on it."

[slayers_desire]

April presses one more kiss to his lips. Then lets go, so he can go help stop Solaris. It feels so hard to watch him fly off...

But there is a world to protect.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Superman steps back, glad that she is safe and he doesn't have to worry about her. He turns to the others. "Let's go."

Jonathan makes a sad face when he sees his daddy leaving. "Dede..."

[slayers_desire]

"I know sweetheart." April kisses the top of Jonathan's head. "But daddy will be back for us. He always comes back."

She sits at Watchtower, to watch over the situation.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Cyborg has never flown before, but he quickly gets the hang of it with the help of the Legion ring, and watching the others. The four of them fly together, J'onn's psychic powers keeping them in communication and locked on target.

Solaris has emerged in the same spot that they stopped it before, and it is far more angry now. The Kryptonian and his allies managed to deceive it once before. It's determined not to allow it again.

[slayers_desire]

April bounces Jonathan on her knees as she watches the Watchtower monitors. She has her psychic senses open, alloing her to get a side-whisper of the conversations of the four heroes in space.

She can sense Solaris' determination. And nervously bites her bottom lip.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

This time, Solaris is alert to the approach of the heroes. And it doesn't want to talk. It begins to fire on them, sending streams of heat at their formation and making them scatter.

Green Lantern creates a shield and uses it to protect Martian Manhunter, letting the fire splatter on its edge. Cyborg takes shelter behind Superman.

[slayers_desire]

Solaris' determination is even stronger than before. And April really hopes that the four heroes can find a way to stop him.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

It's odd to relay commands through J'onn, when normally April is the one telepathically linking them. Manhunter, you and I will create a diversion. Green Lantern, get Cyborg close enough to Solaris that he can hack into it. He still hopes that they can stop Solaris without destroying it.

Dinah watches the monitors with worry. She doesn't hear the telepathic messages, and can only watch their signals on the monitors.

[slayers_desire]

"Superman and Manhunter are going to create a diversion. They are going to try to get Cyborg close enough to hack into Solaris." April mentions to Dinah. To ease her concern.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Laris," Jonathan repeats with a frown. He's heard that word a lot today, though he doesn't know what it means. It took Daddy away from his birthday party and that must mean it's bad.

Out past the orbit of Mars, in the asteroid belt, the four heroes battle the tyrant sun. Superman shields J'onn from the heat attacks, and Solaris goes after them, the two most vulnerable. Its single eye can only point in one direction at a time.

[slayers_desire]

'The difficulty is that both Superman and Martian Manhunter are the most vulnerable to the fire beams from Solaris." April cuddles Jonathan in her arms. She can sense his concern for daddy.

[jla_npc]

"Should we alert Emil?" Dinah asks. The costumed heroes are all getting ready for what might happen if Solaris can't be stopped right away, but the support staff like Emil don't have patrols to prepare for.

[slayers_desire]

"That is a good idea." April nods in agreement. She would hate for anyone to be injured right now.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Dinah turns her attention towards summoning the doctor to Watchtower, glad to have something to do other than just watching and waiting. It's the hardest part about pulling a shift in Watchtower, no matter who you are.

Green Lantern creates a cannon around Cyborg and shoots him at Solaris' back, like something out of the circus. Cyborg is startled by the change, but adapts quickly, opening a port in his hand as he flies and pressing it against the sun's surface. His hand burns with the contact, but he grits his teeth and keeps contact, extending himself outward to try and make sense of the alien computer.

Superman and Martian Manhunter stick close, presenting a more tempting target. J'onn takes a hit to the shoulder, before Superman swoops in front of him and takes the brunt. The red light isn't quite overpowering enough to overpower the yellow light of the true sun, but it still hurts without burning.

[slayers_desire]

"Cyborg has made contact..." April wishes she could help too. "Is there anyway he can connect to Superman's AI at the Fortress? He might need some Kryptonian knowledge to make sense of Solaris' programming."

[jla_npc]

"I don't have any access to it," Dinah says, wishing right now that she did. "Unless you could do it... are they out of range for you?"

[slayers_desire]

"No. They are not out of range. I better go there in person, to ensure the AI is okay with this."

"How about it Jonathan, want to go see the Fortress?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Forress!" Jonathan agrees.

Dinah tosses her a communicator. "Stay safe."

Out in space, Superman does his best to keep Solaris's attention while Martian Manhunter heals. Cyborg, are you in yet?

I don't even know where to start!

[slayers_desire]

April takes the communicator, and notes the panic in Cyborg's face. She reaches out with her abilities, I am heading to the Fortress to get information from the AI.

The quickest way to the Fortress is via PINpoint in this time. Luckily, there is some winter clothing stored at Watchtower that April can grab for herself and Jonathan, before activating the portal.