Max, the Sable ferret, was needed.
He carefully marked his place in the manuscript of his latest "Lone Ranger" pastiche and placed the green ring on his finger. He touched it to the glowing lantern and recited the Oath.
"In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight!
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware my power - Green Lantern's light!"
With his power ring fully charged, he clothed himself in green and flew off.
He was almost to his destination when a human figure in red and blue, mostly blue, flew up alongside him.
"Hey, Supes! Good to see you! It's been awhile!"
"Hiya, Max! I've been busy, I'm afraid, and so have you, I suppose. I liked your last Lone Ranger."
"Thanks! I thought your movie was great fun! What did you think?"
"Well... Maybe a bit too pretentious in spots. But it's a new take on my story and I like that much about it."
"I liked it, too. What I especially like is that you're possibly gonna face Batman in the next movie. About time!"
"Yeah, well, Batman and I get along, more or less, but we do disagree on a lot of things."
"That's gonna make it even more fun! Anyway, what are we up against today?"
"Bunch of giant alien robots. They're heading for Pittsburgh."
"Ah. Usual slam-bang stuff. Okay, let's go for it."
The two superheroes flew ahead, and soon they saw a group of giant robots walking across an open field.
Superman said, "Goodness, there's a bunch of them. Different colors, too. Oh, dear, some are yellow. That's gonna be tough for you, with the Power Ring's limitations."
"Doesn't affect anything yellow, right. I think I can figure a way around that. How about a contest, Supes?"
"Contest? What, who can take out the most robots?"
"Yep."
"You're on!" And Superman sped up and crashed through the metal chests of three robots in a row.
Max muttered, "Good Start!" and formed a giant green mallet that he used to knock the head off of green robot. He flew on and swung at others.
Time for a musical interlude here.
"I feel my wings have broken in your hands.
I feel the words unspoken inside,
When they pull you under
And I would give you anything you want and oh,
You are all I wanted.
"And all my dreams are fallen down,
Crawlin' 'round and 'round and 'round."Superman slammed robots right and left, "Seven... eight... nine... How you comin', Max?"
Max flattened a robot and replied, "Oh, not bad - ah." Max pulled up short. He was confronted with a particularly big, bright yellow mechanical monster.
Max thought for a moment, then he used a big green paw to snag a blue robt that was walking by. ""C'mere, you." Then used the blue robot as a big sledge hammer to smash the yellow robot to pieces.
"Hey, Supes, two at once!"
"Actually, I'll grant you an extra point because one was yellow!"
"Decent of you." And they fought on.
"Somebody save me,
Let your warm hands break right through,
Somebody save me.
I don't care how you do it!
"Just stay, stay.
C'mon, I've been waiting for you!"More smashing. More robots down. It went on and on.
"I see the world has folded in your heart.
I feel the waves crash down inside,
And they pull me under.
And I would give you anything you want and oh
You are all I wanted.
"And all my dreams are fallen down,
Crawlin' 'round and 'round and 'round.
"Somebody save me,
Let your warm hands break right through,
Somebody save me.
I don't care how you do it!
"Just stay, stay.
C'mon, I've been waiting for you!"And then there were no more robots. The two heroes met in midair and compared notes.
Max said, "Well, that was fun! I got 27. How about you?"
Superman replied, "Well, I got 33."
"Cool beans! There's evidence right there of who the greatest superhero is!"
"Awww, thanks. But we're all heroes."
"Can't argue with that. Still, you're the greatest" The two shook hand and paw, and Max looked at the remains of 60 giant robots. "Now comes the cleanup."
"That's the part of the superhero business that the comics and movies never talk about. Bit somebody has to do something about the mess."
"True. But first." Max pulled piece of paper out of his pocket. "Could you help me display a sign? It would be appreciated."
"Certainly!" So Superman took hold of one corner and Max took hold of the other and stretched it out to display the sign.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANN!
Max and Superman grinned and waved.
I liked the movie. Happy birthday!
Paul
"Save Me (Theme from Smallville)" by Remy Zero
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG2w0Na6YxE
