Superman :
Good to meet you all.
Thank you again for what you did in Bialya,
but we need to talk.
Mister Black :
Of course.
Someone comes sniffing around your tomato,
so to speak, you need to get a look-see.
Due Diligence.
We're an open book.
So if you'll just relax...
Superman :
Sorry. I heard your Telepathic Shout before.
But My Mind is protected from anything deeper by a series of psychic blocks.
Mister Black :
Best I've seen, too.
Got a few skeletons rattling around
up there you don't want out?
I'm not looking for your Deepest, Darkest —
Showing is faster than Telling.
I hate to hear Me Own Voice,
Believe it or not.
Coldcast :
Don't believe him.
Only thing shuts him up
is a soccer game.
Mister Black :
Football, you uneducated Yank.
This is low-level stuff, Supes.
Promise. Like Telly in HD.
Alright -- Apologies in advance
for the graphic nature
of what you're about to see --
Some of us had it rough
in The Origin Department.
"I'm off, then.
See you at dinner."
"Lucky I give you
a roof and a pillow,
you worthless squib.
You want something to eat?
Work it out for yourself.
Take The Girl with you.
Can't stand her mewling."
It's a Cinderella story, really.
I was The Unplanned Fifth of Five boys,
left to fend for meself
after me mum died giving birth
to Number Six.
The Only Girl.
Vera.
"Ooh. What's wrong, love?"
"I lost my mum!"
"Oh, don't fret, dear.
We'll find your mum."
The Only Good Thing I had.
Brothers had all gone off
and wound up dead or in jail,
where they wound up dead anyway.
But Vera, She was Special.
Did what I could to protect her.
But really, she was always
taking care of me,
'til that summer.
Plenty of loose wallets in Heaton Park.
Not proud of it, but hungry is hungry.
"Good Day!"
"Let's get ice cream before...
Aah!"
Thought it was puberty, you know. Headaches.
The feeling that My Body
was turning against me.
But it was getting worse by the week.
But that day...
There's one of them.
I couldn't stand.
Couldn't run.
A Damn Cripple.
If it wasn't for Vera...
"Sod off, copper."
"No! Vera!"
It was a frigging Horror Show.
Me, on my knees.
Vera screaming.
And I was Helpless,
praying for it all to stop.
Imagine my shock when it did.
Goodbye, headaches.
Hello, Power.
After that it's the usual fish tale.
Her Majesty's Secret Service took notice,
gave me a bed, and taught me about
Hurting Bad People
In The Name of Freedom.
Met this lot during a particularly disenfranchising Tour in Africa,
and we decided to make a go of it
freelance, like yourself.
The Rest is Current Events.
Superman :
Your Sister --
Did She Make It?
Mister Black :
We Don't All Get
Happy Endings, Superman.
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