I had a fun idea for a rewrite of the first meeting between Zod and Superman. In my head this is Christopher Reeves and Terrance Stamp.
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General Zod was hovering outside the window to The Daily Planet and Perry White could not figure out why.
The obvious answer was Lois Lane. She had covered Superman since his first arrival in Metropolis and the local villain populace tended to think that threatening her would get a reaction from the man of steel.
Except that the General, who had arrived only days ago demanding that Earth submit to his dictatorship, was demanding Superman meet him outside.
From behind Perry, someone was pushing through the crowd and toward the window.
“Kal-El,” Zod shouted. “I demand that you submit to the leader of New Krypton and help me in taming this land. Come to me, son of Jor-El. Come and kneel before Zod.”
Finally, whoever was shuffling behind Perry touched the Daily Planet’s Editor in Chief on the shoulder and drew his attention from the alien on display.
Clark Kent stood next to him with a look of, what was that? Did he look regretful?
“Sorry, Chief,” Clark said. “I should have told you sooner.” He took of his glasses and handed them to his boss. He gave a quick wink. “You should probably let Lois do the byline. She can fill in any of the gaps.”
“What are you talk-“ Perry started to say as Clark tore open his shirt and stepped up to the window.
As everyone stared at the man sitting on the window sill with his legs hanging out, it was the quietest the bullpen had ever been.
The Superman sitting on the window sill.
“General,” Superman called from where he sat. “I would like to have a word.”
He floated from the window and let the remainders of Clark’s suit fall from him, revealing the rest of his real uniform. His trajectory took him gently to within feet of the General.
“Do you wish to plead for them, Kal-El?” Zod mocked.
Superman shook his head. “No. That’s not it at all.” He crossed his arms. “I am going to tell you how this goes and then give you a choice.”
Zod laughed before saying, “Please, entertain me.”
Superman took a breath.
“First, and this is important, so pay attention; whatever name you think you know me by, that isn’t who I am. My name is Clark, son of John and Martha. If you can’t remember that, then the rest of this isn’t going to much matter.” He cast a quick glance back at Perry, his coworkers, and saw Lois in the back, smiling. “Second, for a great strategic military mind, you seem to have missed a key piece of intel that is going to change the way your day goes.”
“And that is?” The General was still enjoying what he saw as Superman’s posturing.
“The science behind why you and are flying up here.” Superman unfolded his arms and pointed at the sun. “Our cells take solar radiation and convert it into energy that fuels these powers. Except, then how do we fly at night?”
“Our bodies store that energy as well, obviously,” Zod sneered.
Superman smiled. “That’s right. Our cells take in that solar radiation, convert it into energy, and then store that energy.” He drifted closer to Zod and only stopped when he was within arm’s reach. “Remind me, how many days have you been here?”
Realization started to dawn on Zod’s face, but he was incapable of admitting any failing and quickly squashed the foreign emotion that ran through him. He hid his fear.
“Three days,” Superman said. “Your cells have been storing energy for three days. I have been here for my entire life.” His voice got so quiet that no one but Zod could hear what he said next. “I wasn’t hiding to protect my secret. I was trying to protect you.”
“I tire of this,” Zod shouted. “Kneel.”
Superman’s face flashed frustration. Why wouldn’t Zod take the easy route? Why did he have to make this more difficult than it was?
“This is your only warning,” he explained. “Leave now, or take a swing. I’m not bowing and this will be your only free shot.”
The General’s face reddened with rage. With all of his Kryptonian enhanced speed, his fist shot out and connected with Superman’s chin.
Superman didn’t move. Zod swung again, but his fist connected with the open palm of Superman. The man of steel had moved too fast for Zod to see.
“I said you get one,” Superman spoke. His tone was still calm, if a little disappointed.
Zod’s eyes flashed red as they heated up. “You will kneel before me, Kal-“
The General never saw the fist that connected with his face and couldn’t understand how he had ended up on the ground until Superman came hovering toward him.
“My name is Clark, and you were warned.”
Author Matthew Davenport 