Story: "Saints" (22 Pages)

Credits:

Mark Schultz (plot, script)
Doug Mahnke (pencils)
Tom Nguyen (inks)
Wildstorm FX (colors)
Ken Lopez (letters)
Tom Palmer Jr. and Eddie Berganza (edits)

Feature Character:

Superman

Guest Stars:

S.T.R.I.P.E.
Star-Spangled Kid II (S.T.R.I.P.E. offered a job at Steelworks)

Supporting Characters:

Steel II
Emil Hamilton
Lex Luthor
Hope
Mercy
Pete Ross
Lois Lane
Jimmy Olsen

Villains:

Earthquake

Other Characters:

Clemente (of CAELOSS)

Synopsis:

Metropolis experiences an earthquake: not a common event, and not, it would seem, a natural one either. The epicentre of the quake is moving, towards and through some of the key pieces of the B-13 technology which has made Metropolis the city of the future. Investigating, Steel and Superman discover an elaborate message threatening death to president-elect Luthor, who is at that moment preparing for his inauguration.

In Washington, Luthor's aides intercept some communication from CAELOSS - the Citizens Army for the Economic Liberation Of Suicide Slum - regarding an inauguration-day protest; Luthor sends Hope and Mery to deal with it. Elsewhere in the capital, Steel (in civilian garb) and his neice meet up with Pat Dugan, an old friend of Steel's, and his step-daughter Courtney. Steel suddenly disappears on them, making his way to the CAELOSS rendezvous where he provides them with a device for writing sky-messages. The meeting is interrupted by Hope and Mercy who assume that Irons is aligned with CAELOSS for business reasons, as his Steelworks is in direct competition with LexCorp. He protests that he really does have problems with the effect that the B-13 technology has had on Suicide Slum and does his best to fend off Luthor's bodyguards. Luckily for him, the Star-Spangled Kid shows up and pins Hope and Mercy still with her shooting stars. Steel suddenly realises that since CAELOSS has no paper communications, the one intercepted by Luthor's aides must have been a fake, designed to divert attention away from the inaugural platform. Sure enough, a monstrous being called Earthquake appears, wanting to kill Luthor for his environmental crimes against both Suicide Slum and the world at large.

The president-elect is saved by Superman, who had hoped not to be seen at the inauguration (in silent protest at Luthor's successful election), along with Steel, S.T.R.I.P.E. and the Kid. As the dust settles, and Superman is hauled away by Luthor to appear in front of the cameras with him, Steel tells S.T.R.I.P.E., who is also known as Pat Dugan, the reason for meeting up - he wants to offer Dugan a job at Steelworks in Metropolis. Natasha is not overly pleased: 'more superheroes to clean up after'.

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