With Superman
The jungle shook with a sudden CRASH somewhere deep in the biome.
Superman paused. Was that Ark? Did he have an escape plan? But the thought died quickly. His luck hadn't been running that hot lately. "Maybe it's another way out," he muttered to himself.
On the other hand, Lobo took it in stride and ran toward the sound. This might have been more interesting.
As they drew closer, a new voice appeared. "Don't bet on it."
Instantly, both heroes froze. Superman took a stance, and Lobo did the same.
"Move in, boys," the voice commanded. "Without their powers, these wimps are dead meat."
Without hesitation, the two took off, but it was too late.
Bright flashes of laser fire nearly hit, forcing them to a halt. Above them were Gnaww and his crew, weapons leveled.
Gnaww gave a sharp nod. "Get 'em." The hunters dropped, landing in a semicircle.
Superman and Lobo instinctively took a step back. Outnumbered. No powers. 'Not good,' Superman thought grimly.
With that, Superman and Lobo sprinted in full retreat. Behind them, the bounty hunters were closing in.
Vaulting over a tree trunk, Lobo shot Superman a manic grin. "Nothin' like a little exercise, eh, Supes?"
"They wouldn't be chasing us if someone hadn't antagonized half the galaxy," Superman said.
Lobo snorted. "Don't insult me. I'll have you know I pissed off more than half."
A burst of laser fire instantly fried a nearby tree trunk.
"Move!" Superman grabbed Lobo by the arm and pulled him forward.
Gnaww wasn't letting up. "Flank 'em! I want the Czarnian alive. The Kryptonian's just gravy!"
Two reptilian hunters peeled off while a brute in armor simply bulldozed a path.
Superman and Lobo scrambled behind bulbous plants.
Lobo risked a peek from behind their cover. "Alright, playtime's over. These jokers are startin' to chafe my hide."
Superman didn't spare him a glance. "There's a ravine ahead! We need to move, now!"
Lobo cracked his knuckles. "Or... we could stand our ground, rip 'em a new..."
Superman grabbed his arm, cutting him off. "No time! Move!" Before Lobo could object, another energy blast detonated nearby, and Superman practically dragged him forward, the two sprinting towards the ravine, dodging stun bolts, and leaping over gnarled roots.
Gnaww saw their destination. "They're headin' for the drop! Cut 'em off!"
Superman and Lobo reached the ravine's edge, looking down below.
Lobo crossed his arms. "You sure about this, Blue?"
Superman clenched his fists. "Do you have a better idea?"
Lobo's grin returned. "Yeah! We turn around and frag 'em all!"
Superman sighed. "We're jumping."
Lobo rolled his eyes dramatically. "Fine! But if I land wrong and bust my spleen, I'm billin' you for it!"
With that, the two leaped off the cliff as bolts hit where they once stood.
As they plummeted into the mist below, Gnaww and his hunters skidded to a stop at the edge.
Gnaww growled. "They're not gettin' away that easy. After them!"
With Ark
Alarms screamed through the corridor as Ark ran down the hallway. Red lights flashed. Hull breach. Bounty hunters. Great. With the Preserver's bots tied up keeping life support online, it was up to him. If this ship went down, entire species went with it. Time for some heavy artillery.
"Alright, Lobo. Let's see who the real Main Man is."
He slapped the Omnitrix dial. A blinding flash of green energy consumed him. His muscles expanded, and his skin paled to chalk white. His brown hair darkened and grew wild in a jet-black mane. His eyes ignited, burning crimson.
Ark flexed his new arms, feeling the strength behind them. His memory of his early fight with Lobo as Rath wasn't wrong. A wicked grin split his face. "Oh yeah. This'll do nicely."
A heavy THUD reverberated from further down the hall. They were close. Ark cracked knuckles. Let them come.
"Alright, you interstellar idiots, get a load'a this." He launched himself forward.
A new name came to mind. 'Punk Buster. Perfect.' Muffled shouts ahead. They hadn't spotted him yet. Time for the grand entrance. He exploded through the final patch of plant life.
He landed among them with a ground-shaking WHUMP!, scattering them. A bug-eyed alien barely managed a wide-eyed "What the?" before Punk Buster snatched him by the vest and used him as a battering ram against a second hunter. There was a CRUNCH as they slammed into a tree.
A third raised his blaster, but Punk Buster ripped a branch thicker than a man's thigh from a nearby tree and easily swatted the weapon away. Before the now-unarmed hunter could blink, Punk Buster grabbed his collar, hauled him close, and delivered a headbutt. The hunter dropped out cold.
The rest of the squad froze, clearly rethinking their life choices as they watched their buddies drop.
Punk Buster let his grin stretch wider, showing sharp teeth, crimson eyes gleaming. "C'mon, boys. I'm just getting warmed up."
The bounty hunters opened fire.
Big mistake.
With a laugh, Punk Buster charged forward.
He dodged left, rolling under a volley of blasts, then sidestepped right. "Gonna have to do better than that, chumps!" he taunted.
Their leader shrieked, "Encircle him! Target the cranial unit!" Two hunters broke off, charging from the flanks with crackling electro-batons.
Punk Buster went predatory. "Feelin' brave, huh? Wanna get up close and personal? Fine by me!"
The first one lunged, swinging his baton in am arc. Punk Buster caught it. The hunter's eyes widened as the metal crumpled in Punk Buster's grip. Ark ripped the ruined baton free and slapped the hunter across the face with the back of his hand, sending him tumbling head over heels into the brush.
The second attacker saw an opening, swinging his baton hard against the back of Punk Buster's skull with both hands. It connected with a loud THWACK!
...and achieved absolutely nothing. Punk Buster didn't even rock on his feet.
The hunter froze mid-swing in utter disbelief. "...Uh oh."
Punk Buster turned his head slowly with a CRACK as he popped his neck. He smirked at the terrified hunter. "My turn."
He grabbed the hunter by the chest plate and powerbombed him into the ground.
Three down in spectacular fashion. The few hunters still standing looked ready to bolt. Their trigger fingers twitched, but nobody fired. Punk Buster threw his arms wide, practically inviting them.
"C'MON! I thought you fraggin' mercenaries were supposed to be tough! Is this IT?!"
The insectoid leader let out a furious screech. "FIRE EVERYTHING! BRING HIM DOWN!"
What little discipline remained kicked in, and they unleashed hell from all angles. He just laughed and charged through it. Bolts slammed into his chest, dissipating harmlessly. He barely felt them.
He bulldozed through a rotten log, shoulder-checked another hunter so hard the crack of plastoid armor echoed through the trees, then snatched a third by the ankle. He spun the hapless alien around before launching him headfirst into a massive, moss-covered boulder with a CRUNCH.
Only the leader remained. The insectoid drew a pair of crackling energy blades from his back. "Enough! I shall dissect you myself!"
Punk Buster felt feral joy. "Took ya long enough! Finally, someone with some guts!"
The insectoid lunged, flashing plasma aimed at Punk Buster's neck.
Punk Buster flowed around the attack, ducking under a decapitating slash, then batting the second blade aside with a forearm, sending sparks flying. Before the leader could recover, Punk Buster drove a massive fist deep into his abdomen, lifting him off his feet with the force of the blow. A brutal uppercut followed, launching the skyward insectoid until he collided with a thick tree limb above. The SNAP of the branch breaking was followed by the heavy thud of the leader hitting the grounp.
Silence fell, broken only by the pained groans of downed bounty hunters scattered amidst the wreckage of smashed foliage. Punk Buster stood in the center of it all. He rolled his massive shoulders, cracked his knuckles one last time, surveying the scene.
A wide, satisfied grin spread across his face. "Heh. Man, I love this form."
With Superman
Superman and Lobo weaved between trees and dodging blaster fire.
The bounty hunters were relentless as they followed.
From behind them, a gruff voice called out. "Hey, Lobo! Remember us?"
Lobo rolled his eyes as he ducked under a branch. "Oh, sure! How could I forget the guys who tried to steal my bounty?"
Superman glanced at him. "You're really not helping!"
A fresh round of laser fire shredded the trees around them.
They broke into a clearing and spotted a building ahead.
"Cover!" Superman shouted.
The two leaped behind a large boulder, blaster fire impacting the rock.
Superman turned to Lobo. "Friends of yours?"
Lobo gave a toothy smirk. "My bridge club."
Before Superman could form a suitably scathing reply, Sqweek suddenly popped up from where he'd been clinging to Lobo's back, tiny voice filled with misplaced hope. "It's Gnaww! My brother! He's here to rescue me!"
Lobo snorted, grabbed the little creature, and unceremoniously dropped him onto the dirt. "Keep dreamin', runt."
Heavy footsteps crunched on the other side of the boulder as Gnaww and his crew fanned out. "Couldn't hide forever, Lobo!" Gnaww's voice sneered, closer now. "That piece-of-junk bike of yours leaves an ion trail wider than your ego! Smelled it halfway across the sector."
Lobo bristled instantly, poking his head recklessly over the rock. "Hey! Nobody talks trash about the Space Hog!"
WHIZZ-CRACK!
An energy bolt slammed directly into his forehead with a flash of blue sparks. Lobo staggered back with a loud grunt, eyes crossing for a dizzy second, before Superman grabbed the front of his jacket and hauled him violently back behind cover.
Superman let out a sharp breath. "Their firepower... we can't match it like this."
Lobo shook his head vigorously, rubbing the rapidly healing scorch mark on his forehead and spitting onto the ground. "No kiddin', genius."
Superman ignored the comment. He activated his X-ray vision, scanning the treeline past the boulder. He could see Gnaww's troops spreading out, methodically cutting off escape routes. "They're boxing us in," he murmured, calculating angles and odds.
Lobo just cracked his knuckles. "Good. Means I won't have ta chase 'em. At least I'll go down fraggin'!"
Superman tuned him out. His gaze locked onto something unexpected within. His eyes widened. "Wait... there's something else in there. Something... big."
Lobo leaned in. "Big? What kinda big? Payday big?"
Superman spared a glance at the closing hunters. "Never mind. Get Sqweek to the docking bay inside that structure. Now. I'll create a diversion."
Lobo didn't need telling twice. He just scoffed. "Fine by me. Your funeral, Blue Boy."
He snatched Sqweek up by the scruff of his neck and bolted from behind the boulder, sprinting towards the relative safety under the treeline, leaving Superman alone to face the hunters.
With Lobo
While Superman kicked up a racket drawing fire back in the clearing, Lobo tried for something vaguely resembling stealth. Which, for him, mostly meant crashing through slightly less loudly than usual, with Sqweek flailing in his grip.
"Slow down, you oversized maniac!" Sqweek shrieked, bouncing painfully against Lobo's leather vest.
Lobo didn't break stride, didn't even glance down. "Pipe down, furball! Almost at the docking bay. Then it's payday, and I'm gettin' the biggest, baddest mug o' rotgut this side o' the galactic core!"
Sqweek groaned something unintelligible about internal injuries, but whatever complaint he had died in his throat as Lobo dug his heels in, skidding to a halt amidst flying dirt and shredded leaves. Blocking their path, stepping out from behind thick, dripping fronds, was another squad of heavily armed bounty hunters. Great. Just fraggin' great.
At the front of the pack stood a massive reptilian alien, covered in thick scales with a hulking build.
"Ah, Lobo. I thought Gnaww had you pinned up ahead."
Lobo cocked an eyebrow, utterly unimpressed. "What, Gnaww couldn't handle me himself? Had to call in his B-team?" Lobo snorted. "Heh. You know what I can do, and you still took the contract? You boys got a serious death wish or just plain stupid?"
"Pays well," the leader rumbled, hefting his heavy plasma repeater. Around him, the others raised their weapons. "Last chance, Lobo!" one of the grunts yelled. "Surrender the bounty!"
Lobo glanced down at the terrified Sqweek, then back at the hunters arrayed before him. "Guess it's time to stash the merchandise." He unceremoniously crammed Sqweek headfirst into a deep, reinforced pocket on his leather vest, ignoring the muffled, indignant squeaks of "Hey! Get me outta here! I'm not carry-on luggage, you bastich!"
Lobo cracked his knuckles. "Alright, boys. Let's dance."
Lobo charged forward.
The reptilian leader raised his blaster, but Lobo was already there.
A massive uppercut connected, launching the big alien backward to slam into a tree with a CRACK of bone and wood.
Plasma bolts erupted from the other hunters. Lobo laughed. "C'mon! Tickle me again! My grandma hits harder!" He grabbed the nearest hunter by the throat and using him as a flailing, armored shield before swinging him bodily into two others. THWACK! They went down in a tangle of limbs and curses.
High in the canopy, a sniper ained, but Lobo spotted the glint of the scope instantly.
"Tsk, tsk. No peepin' toms."
Lobo grabbed a massive chunk of rock from the ground and hurled it at the sniper's perch. The hunter tumbled down, landing hard with a grunt.
One of the bounty hunters pulled out a plasma blade, charging. "You're DEAD, Lobo!"
Lobo simply sidestepped the attack and grabbed the hunter's wrist mid-swing, twisting it until the blade dropped.
"Cute. Real cute."
With a brutal headbutt, Lobo sent the bounty hunter sprawling.
From the depths of Lobo's vest came a muffled, bouncing, increasingly desperate voice: "Could you PLEASE try not to get jostled so much?! I think I'm gonna hurl in here!"
Lobo chuckled, effortlessly dodging another wild shot. "Relax, fuzzball! Just tenderizin' the competition! Builds character!"
The reptilian leader groaned, staggering painfully upright, optics swimming, trying to bring his weapon back online. Too slow. Lobo lunged, snatching the heavy blaster. He crushed it in his hand. Then, grabbing the dazed leader by his scaly throat, Lobo lifted him clear off the ground, armored boots kicking uselessly a foot above the dirt.
"Tell your pal Gnaww," Lobo snarled, face inches from the terrified reptilian, eyes burning, "if he wants this bounty this bad, he's gonna hafta send someone tougher than you rent-a-thugs. And prettier, too."
He hurled the hunter into a nearby tree.
The clearing was now littered with unconscious bounty hunters.
He reached into his vest and yanked out Sqweek. The little alien was coated in grime, looking distinctly green around the gills, eyes spinning.
"Still kickin', payload?" Lobo asked, tone utterly smug.
Sqweek moaned weakly, clutching his stomach. "I... I think I'm gonna be sick... all over your vest..."
Lobo grinned. "Perfect! Means you're still worth somethin'."
He started moving again, heading for the docking bay entrance, Sqweek dangling limply from his hand. But after maybe a minute of crashing through the plants, the unmistakable sound of more fighting. Desperate blaster fire, heavy impacts, and furious shouts reached him from up ahead. He frowned. He dumped Sqweek unceremoniously behind a bush and ducked behind a massive tree trunk, peering cautiously into another, larger clearing just beyond.
"What the frag...?" His eyes narrowed, focusing.
In the thick of the chaos, laying waste to yet another group of hapless bounty hunters, was... another Czarnian? Looked almost like... him.
This new guy, maybe slightly leaner, hair wilder but just as black, was tearing through the hunters, slamming two armored bodies together before using another hunter as an improvised projectile against a tree.
CRACK!
The surviving hunters were clearly panicked, scrambling back.
"Is that Lobo?! Did he get past the others!"
"How?! I thought there was only ONE of 'em!"
"Frag it, we're all dead meat!"
Lobo's red eyes twitched in pure rage.
"That... ain't me."
The sight of another Czarnian, especially one being mistaken for him, was enough to push Lobo over the edge. They thought this... this poser... this cheap knock-off... was him?
That was it. Seeing some second-rate imitation getting his hard-earned fear and reputation pushed Lobo past simmering anger into pure, incandescent fury.
With a growl, he tossed Sqweek aside and stomped into the clearing.
He didn't bother with any pretense of strategy, simply backhanding a terrified, fleeing bounty hunter clean out of his path. The alien sailed a good twenty feet, crashing hard into the upper canopy with a startled yelp.
The impact made the other Czarnian pause mid-pummel. He casually dropped the hunter he'd been throttling, dusting hands. He froze for just a fraction of a second as he saw the real Lobo standing there. The newcomer's crimson Czarnian eyes widened slightly in surprise before he grew a cocky, challenging smirk.
"Well, well... look what the space cat dragged in. Finally decided to show up, huh? It's you."
Lobo's teeth were bared in a snarl that would make a Kreetassan Death Hound whimper. "Who the frag are YOU supposed to be?!"
The poser crossed his arms, mirroring Lobo's aggressive stance, utterly unfazed. "Name's Punk Buster. Got a problem with it, gramps?"
Lobo scoffed, nostrils flaring. "Yeah. It's a stupid fraggin' name."
The smirk widened. "Says the guy named after a Terran canine."
Lobo's brow twitched dangerously. "Funny. I distinctly remember fraggin' every last member of our species," he growled, stalking closer, every muscle coiled and ready, sizing up this infuriating imposter.
Punk Buster didn't flinch, didn't back down an inch. "Yeah? Well, looks like you missed one. Or maybe, you just didn't do a very good job."
Lobo stopped dead in his tracks, fists trembling at his sides. "What... did you just say... to ME?"
Punk Buster stood his ground, clearly enjoying pushing every single one of Lobo's buttons. "You heard me, Bozo. You tried to wipe us all out 'cause you wanted to be 'unique,' right? Well, surprise! Still here."
Lobo looked him up and down again. "Huh. Gotta admit, you ain't like those other sniveling pansies back on the home world... you actually got some muscle. Almost... like me."
Punk Buster snorted dismissively. "Nah. I'm better. Faster, smarter, better lookin'. Though," he added, looking Lobo up and down with theatrical mock pity, "you don't exactly set a high bar for 'peak Czarnian performance,' do ya, old timer?"
That did it.
Lobo's face contorted into a mask of pure, unadulterated rage, veins bulging thick and purple on his neck as he jabbed a thick, menacing, gloved finger straight at Punk Buster. "THAT'S IT! YOU'RE SCRAP METAL, YA COPYCATTIN', INSULT-SPEWIN' SON OF A BASTICH!"
Punk Buster just dropped into a ready fighting stance, that infuriatingly cocky smirk still plastered firmly on his face. "Heard you the first time. Bring it on, grandpa!"
With Superman
Ignoring the stray blaster bolts still zinging past him, Superman closed the gap with the nearest bounty hunter. A single right hook connected, sending the hunter sailing backward through the air, out cold before he even hit the ground.
Without pausing, Superman spun towards the structure nearby, slamming his palms against the massive, heavy doors. Gritting his teeth, still feeling the dregs of the alien sun's weakening effect, he put his shoulder into it, groaning with the strain as the thick metal panels scraped open just enough for him to slip through.
He barely got one foot inside when he felt a searing pain in his back. A blaster bolt threw him forward off his feet..
Rolling over with a pained grunt, he looked up into the smug, ugly face of Gnaww. His two remaining thugs aimed their guns at him. Gnaww, enjoying the sight. "Tsk, tsk. Tryin' to run away, Kryptonian? What little surprise were you planning for us in here?"
Just then, a loud squawk echoed from deeper within.
Gnaww sneered. "Oho! Now I get it! Planning to lead us into a trap, huh? Sic one of the Preserver's pet monsters on us? Clever little boy scout." He chuckled darkly, glancing back at his nervous-looking crew. "Tell you what. Maybe we'll just feed you to whatever nasty thing lives in here. Save us the trouble."
Superman shook his head. "You don't want to do that."
Gnaww's grin widened. "Oh, yes we do. Boys, throw him in."
The two bounty hunters grabbed Superman by the arms and heaved him through the doorway.
Superman grunted as he slammed into a thick tree as he slumped to the ground.
Then came another sound.
There was a series of squawks. From the undergrowth emerged... not a slavering, multi-fanged horror, but a plump, rather bewildered-looking feathered bird with ridiculously tiny wings, waddling forward with comical self-importance. It stopped a few feet away, blinked its large, round, unblinking eyes at the intruders, and let out another inquisitive squawk.
Gnaww frowned, lowering his blaster slightly in confusion. "That's a bloodthirsty beast?"
Superman slowly sat up. "Not exactly," he managed. "It's a dodo. Extinct, actually. From my adopted home planet, Earth."
The dodo, seeming entirely unafraid by the heavily armed aliens, waddled closer to Superman and nudged his hand inquisitively with its beak. Superman gently stroked its soft head. The bird leaned into the familiar touch with a soft coo.
Gnaww stared in utter bewilderment. "Earth? What in the seven hells of Cygnus X-1 is Earth?"
Superman didn't answer Gnaww. Instead, he tilted his head back, feeling something... unexpected. A gentle, pervasive warmth soaking into his skin, different from the stale, recycled air of the corridor. He looked up. High above, filtered through the canopy of artificial trees, glowed rows of powerful lamps, bathing the entire vast habitat in light carefully calibrated to mimic... yellow sunlight.
He took a deep, deliberate breath, feeling the change instantly. Strength flooded back into his limbs. A genuine, confident smile spread across his face. He felt right again.
Gnaww saw the shift. His smug confusion evaporated instantly, replaced by dawning, gut-wrenching horror. Gnaww's face paled as he took a step back. "Uh-oh."
Before Gnaww could finish his panicked thought or raise his weapon, Superman exploded upwards and forward too fast for the eye to properly track.
With a single strike, he sent one hunter flying across the room.
Superman grabbed a blaster and crushed it in his grip, sending one sprawling.
Gnaww stumbled backward frantically, fumbling with his own weapon. "Now-now hold on! We can talk about this! Maybe make a deal!"
Superman was already there. No words needed, just decisive action. A final, powerful blow connected squarely, lifting Gnaww clean off his feet and sending him flying backward through the very doors they'd entered moments before, landing in an unconscious heap out in the corridor.
Silence fell once more within the habitat, profound after the sudden burst of violence. Breathing easily, feeling the full measure of his power humming comfortably within him again, Superman calmly brushed some dirt and leaf litter from his suit. He glanced back at the dodo. The bird had merely blinked owlishly at the brief chaos before resuming its placid waddle through the artificial grass, utterly oblivious to the galactic conflict that had just transpired around it.
With Punk Buster and Lobo
Any thought of holding back, any hint of restraint, had vaporized the second the first punch landed. The brawl between Lobo and Punk Buster wasn't just brutal anymore; it had crossed headfirst into the realm of pure, unadulterated cartoon violence.
Punk Buster ducked under a wild, telegraphed swing from Lobo and lunged upward, putting every ounce of Czarnian might into a vicious uppercut. The sound cracked as his fist connected squarely with Lobo's grizzled jaw, literally lifting the Main Man off his feet. Lobo shot upwards past the canopy with comical speed.
Punk Buster cracked his knuckles, spat contemptuously on the ground, and dusted off his hands with a smug smirk. "Guess the old timer couldn't handle the, "
WHAM-CRUNCH! Before the self-satisfied smirk could fully settle on his face, Lobo came screaming back down, landing directly on top of Punk Buster with enough force to shake the entire clearing and send small critters scattering for miles. There was a distinct SPLAT sound as Punk Buster was instantaneously flattened in the dirt under Lobo's heavy boots.
", heat." Ark's voice was muffled from beneath Lobo.
Lobo casually stepped off the living puddle, brushing dust and atomized debris from his vest. "Heh. Nice popgun ya got there, kid. Almost tickled."
Punk Buster's flattened form popped back into three dimensions, instantly incandescent with fury. "Oh, you are so fraggin' dead now!"
He stomped over to the nearest colossal alien tree, easily fifty feet tall, wrapped his arms around its thick base, and with a grunt that seemed to vibrate the very air, ripped it clean out of the ground, roots dangling. Swinging the entire tree, leaves rustling violently, he pivoted with surprising speed.
Lobo barely had time to register the incoming continent of foliage before the leafy end connected squarely with his face. The impact sent Lobo flying horizontally across the clearing, smashing clean through five other equally massive trees.
SNAP! CRACK! THWUMP! CRUNCH! KABOOM!
Each explosion of splinters bigger than the last, before finally skidding to a halt in a veritable avalanche of wood pulp and bewildered alien insects.
Lobo sat up amidst the personalized deforestation project, nonchalantly grabbed his own head, which was now facing completely backward, offering a lovely view of his spine and twisted it a full 180 degrees back into its proper alignment with a loud CRACK-POP! He spat out a mouthful of wood chips. "Cute trick, copycat! My turn!"
He reached behind him and drew his signature weapon: the heavy, grease-stained, wickedly hooked chain. It whirred menacingly before launching it. The heavy hook snagged Punk Buster's ankle.
With a grunt of malicious glee, Lobo started swinging the younger Czarnian around and around over his head before repeatedly, rhythmically, SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! smashing him into the unyielding ground, each impact leaving a deeper, more permanent, perfectly outlined Punk Buster-shaped crater in the tortured earth.
After about the tenth impromptu excavation, Lobo paused, holding Punk Buster dangling upside down by the ankle, dust raining off him. "Had enough yet, junior? Ready to cry uncle?"
Ark grunted, spitting out a clot of dirt and blood from his split lip. "Barely... feelin' it... ya fraggin' fossil..."
Lobo shrugged, unimpressed. "Shame." He dropped Punk Buster unceremoniously in a heap. He then produced a ridiculously oversized energy blaster, looted from one of the unfortunate bounty hunters who'd failed to collect earlier. It hummed with barely contained power.
KA-FRAGGIN'-BOOM!
He fired point-blank. The massive energy bolt hit Punk Buster square in the chest, engulfing him in crackling blue fire and launching him backward. He flew clear across the clearing and smashed through the sheer rock face of a nearby cliff, leaving a perfect, smoking, Wile E. Coyote-style silhouette hole.
A moment later, smoking slightly and shedding small chunks of superheated rock, Punk Buster staggered out of the newly created hole in the cliff face. He casually patted out the small flames still flickering merrily on his shoulders and ripped vest. "Gotta give ya that one. It tickled."
Lobo hefted the smoking blaster again. With matching yells, the two Czarnians launched themselves at each other again, fists cocked back, ready for round... hell, who was counting anymore?
Their fists met halfway across the clearing with a shockwave that flattened the nearby bushes and sent ripples across the ground.
CRACK-THOOOM!
They grappled instantly.
Lobo, deciding fists weren't nearly personal enough, leaned in mid-tussle and bit down hard on Punk Buster's bicep, tearing off a sizable chunk of Czarnian muscle with a wet, ripping sound usually reserved for butchering space cows. He spat the bloody piece onto the ground contemptuously. "Tasty!"
Punk Buster roared in sheer fury, grabbed Lobo's head in both his massive hands, and twisted it completely around with a grunt of extreme effort, with another crunch of vertebrae.
Lobo, now technically facing the wrong way but utterly unfazed and probably enjoying the novel viewpoint, simply reached up with both hands, gripped his chin and hair, and snapped his head to face forward again.
"Heh! Now we're talkin'!" Lobo wiped Punk Buster's blue blood from his chin with the back of his glove.
Punk Buster cracked his knuckles again. "Bring it on, you washed-up, geriatric relic!"
For two beings trying to prove they were the toughest bastich in the universe?
Yeah. This was definitely fun. However, recalling this fight later on, Ben had his reservation on using this form again.
With Superman
Superman finally secured the last struggling bounty hunter and brushed dust and debris from his chest. Taking flight with a silent rush of air, he banked towards the distant hangar bay, praying that his own ship or any ship capable of interstellar travel was still in one piece.
But as he gained altitude, destruction in the clearing below snagged his attention. Lobo. Definitely Lobo. And... another Lobo? Locked in a ridiculously violent brawl that was rapidly leveling the surrounding jungle. Unconscious bounty hunters already littered the area.
Superman sighed. "Seriously? After everything else, this? I don't have time for this."
With a sharp change in trajectory, he shot downwards, angling himself precisely. He landed squarely between the two brawling Czarnians with a THUD that cracked the ground beneath his boots, forcing them back a crucial step.
Both identical figures froze mid-swing, identical snarls instantly redirecting from each other to the unwelcome interruption. The air crackled with residual fury.
Superman planted his hands firmly on their chests. "ENOUGH!" His voice wasn't just loud; it carried an authority that momentarily cut through their rage. "Both of you, stand down!"
His gaze swept between the two nearly identical faces, trying to make sense of the situation. But as he looked hard at the one on his left maybe a fraction leaner, hair slightly wilder? Something clicked. A glint of familiar green against the black leather... the unmistakable hourglass symbol.
Superman blinked. "Ark?" Did he already have a Czarnian form?
The Ark-Lobo smirked. "The one and only. But the name's Punk Buster when I look this good, capeesh?"
Lobo's eyes widened. "Wait wait wait... You're the shapeshiftin' puke?! Since when can you turn into this?! Into ME?!" His voice cracked with outrage.
Punk Buster just spread his massive hands in a 'what can I say?' gesture, clearly enjoying Lobo's apoplectic reaction far too much. "Trade secret, old man. Wouldn't you like to know?"
Lobo snarled, veins bulging with rage. "Why I oughta tear that smug grin right off your ugly, copycattin'"
"ENOUGH!" Superman's voice cracked, cutting Lobo off mid-threat. "We need to get out of here."
Punk Buster stepped back slightly, arms crossed. "Way ahead of ya, Supes. Already handled."
Superman raised an eyebrow. "Handled how, Ark?"
Punk Buster winked one crimson Czarnian eye. "Easy. Cut a little deal with old Wrinkles back there. The Preserver."
Lobo's head snapped toward Punk Buster. "You did what?!" he bellowed.
Superman quickly positioned himself between them again while fixing Ark with a serious look. "Hold on, Ark. What kind of deal are we talking about, exactly?"
Punk Buster's red eyes gleamed with pure, unadulterated mischief. "The best kind, naturally. One where everybody gets what they want... mostly."
Superman let out a long, weary sigh, already anticipating the inevitable complications. Dealing with one Lobo was chaotic enough; dealing with Ark as Lobo, cutting deals...? This kid...
Lobo's fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, knuckles white, but even his incandescent rage seemed momentarily paused by a mixture of curiosity and deep suspicion. "You got five seconds to explain, punk, before I start rearranging your molecules the hard way."
Punk Buster just leaned back slightly against a half-uprooted tree, looking utterly pleased with himself. "Relax, grandpa. It's a good one. Benefits all parties involved. Everyone walks away happy. Trust me."
#
The unlikely trio began the trek towards the distant hangar bay, hauling their collective pile of unconscious bounty hunters. As they walked, crunching over fallen branches and wrecked foliage, Punk Buster quickly outlined the core of his 'deal.' He essentially, leveraged the Preserver's obsession away from kidnapping sentient beings and towards actively repopulating endangered non-sentient species across the galaxy.
Lobo, still lugging three groaning hunters slung over his shoulder, mostly grumbled threats under his breath about genetic impurity, double-crosses, and the various painful things he'd do to both the Preserver and Punk Buster if this went sideways.
Punk Buster, effortlessly carrying a stack of six knocked-out thugs over one shoulder, kept shooting smug glances back at Lobo.
Superman used his strength to gently float a neatly bundled group of bound hunters, listening intently to Ark's explanation.
As they finally reached the hangar entrance, the Preserver himself stepped forward hands raised in a tentative, almost awkward gesture of peace. He looked smaller, less imposing, stripped of his earlier arrogance.
"I... I believe I owe you three a profound apology," he began. "My methods... they were flawed. Born of obsession. My desire to preserve the unique wonders of the universe led me down a path where I... overstepped my bounds. Imprisoning sentient beings was never the true goal, merely a misguided means to an end. I recognize the error of my ways now."
Superman's expression remained stern. "Recognizing your error doesn't excuse locking us up, Preserver."
Lobo shifted the awkward weight of his bounty hunter burden, spitting onto the clean hangar floor. "Yeah? Well, I'm still about two seconds away from turnin' you into a new permanent exhibit labeled 'Wrinkly Alien Idiot Who Messed With The Wrong Bastich'."
The Preserver nodded towards Punk Buster with genuine gratitude. "Indeed. However, thanks to the... persuasive and insightful intervention of young Ark here." Punk Buster practically beamed at the compliment. "I have conceived of a new, more ethical path forward. One that allows me to deploy my considerable resources towards ensuring the survival and active repopulation of endangered non-sentient species across the galaxies, without resorting to... involuntary collection."
Lobo snorted loudly, incredulous. "Repopulation? So you're gonna use your weirdo science magic to help his space zoo critters get busy? That your big plan?"
Punk Buster rolled his crimson Czarnian eyes dramatically. "That's... one way to put it, yes, Lobo. A significantly cruder way."
Superman turned his skeptical gaze back to Punk Buster. "Ark, are you absolutely sure about this? Trusting him after everything he's done?"
Punk Buster just crossed his massive arms. "Relax, Supes. It's solid. I drove a hard bargain. No more snatching people, full stop. In exchange for my consulting, he focuses on near extinct non-sentient critters repopulating. Plus, most importantly? We all walk outta here free and clear, right now, no strings attached. It's a win-win."
Superman let out another long sigh, rubbing his temples briefly. The pragmatist in him saw the immediate benefit. "I still don't like the sound of it... feels too easy... but if it means this situation is resolved peacefully and gets us all home safely..."
Lobo rolled his eyes dramatically. He hefted the still-bound Sqweek and slung him carelessly over his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, sentimental hogwash, whatever. Took ya long enough. I got a payday waitin', and frankly, I'm sick o' this place." He turned abruptly and started unceremoniously dumping his load of unconscious bounty hunters into the open cargo bay of Gnaww's slightly battered, commandeered ship. His own prized Space Hog already securely strapped down inside. Sqweek, meanwhile, ended up trussed crudely in a nearby cargo net, dangling upside down from a ceiling beam.
Lobo finished loading the last unconscious hunter with a final, satisfying thud, wiped his hands clean on his already filthy vest, and surveyed his work with grim satisfaction. "Alright, trash is taken out. Time to collect my credits and find me an establishment that serves drinks bigger'n my fraggin' head, preferably with a side of bar fight."
But before heading up the ramp into the slightly-too-small-for-his-bulk ship, Lobo paused, turning back slowly to where Superman, Punk Buster, and the Preserver stood watching the proceedings. He shot a long, lingering, deeply suspicious look specifically at Punk Buster.
"Alright, I'm outta this dump. But I'm keepin' my eye on you," he jabbed a finger at Ark. "Still gives me the major creeps seein' another Czarnian face runnin' around. Especially one as ugly and annoying as yours."
Punk Buster just chuckled, completely unfazed by the threat. "Get over yourself, Lobo. You're not that unique. Just louder."
Lobo snarled, fists clenching, but seemed to decide against it. Maybe later. Plenty of time later. "Whatever. See ya 'round, Supes. Try not to go soft." He then jabbed that same finger directly at Punk Buster again. "And you... Next time our paths cross? Mark my words. Only one Czarnian walks away. And it's gonna be me."
Punk Buster grinned. "Wouldn't miss it for the entire fraggin' universe, Bozo."
Lobo glared at Punk Buster. "Oh, one last piece o' business... Hey, Wrinkles!"
The Preserver barely had time to react before Lobo delivered a right hook straight to his jaw. The alien collector went sprawling backward onto the cold metal floor with a THUD.
"That's for the zoo, ya galactic weirdo." Lobo chuckled, dusted off his hands, and marched up Gnaww's ship's ramp.
Superman and Punk Buster exchanged a startled, then mutually resigned glance before rushing over to the downed Preserver. Superman offered a hand, gently helping the dazed alien sit up. "Are you alright?"
The Preserver groaned, gingerly rubbing his bruised jaw. "Yes... yes. Perfectly... predictable, in hindsight. I suppose I earned that."
Outside, Gnaww's ship lifted off the hangar floor and blasted out into the blackness of space. Even from the enclosed hangar, carried on the residual thrum of the departed engines, they could just faintly hear Lobo's triumphant, maniacal whoop.
#
Omnitrix DNA Entry
Name: Punk Buster
Species: Czarnian
Home World: Czarnia
Powers and Abilities:
Czarnians possess superhuman physical characteristics, with strength on par with Kryptonians under a yellow sun. They are capable of lifting massive starships, breaking through advanced armors, and overpowering the most physically formidable opponents. Their bodies are composed of incredibly dense cellular structures and tightly bound molecular cohesion, granting them resistance to conventional weaponry, energy blasts, radiation, and extreme environmental conditions.
Their regenerative abilities are also formidable. Czarnians can recover from severe trauma, even regenerating fully from a pool of their own blood, placing their healing factor in the high range. This regeneration is complemented by biological immortality; Czarnians do not age beyond maturity, and natural death is impossible. Traditional methods of execution—such as decapitation or disintegration—have repeatedly failed to kill them permanently.
Their extrasensory perception allows them to track individuals across solar systems via scent alone. Once a Czarnian locks onto a target's scent, they can follow it anywhere in the universe, a trait encoded into their neural biology.
Czarnians are capable of interacting with intangible beings, giving them an edge against spectral or non-corporeal entities. Additionally, they exhibit strong resistance to telepathy, diseases, magical effects, and a wide range of other physical and metaphysical attacks, making them one of the most resilient species in the known galaxy.
Note:
The current Czarnian DNA sample's aggression can escalate rapidly. Emotional surges—particularly anger—can amplify physical output but reduce restraint. The Omnitrix has now taken measures to suppresses berserker tendencies when in this form. Due to this risk, caution is advised when using this transformation in populated areas. Non-lethal restraint is recommended.
Omnitrix Commentary – Azmuth AI:
"Upon later confirmation, Lobo alone has caused more destruction than some wars. Use this form only if you have no other option. And if you do—don't enjoy it. I hope to find unmutated Czarnian DNA so that the previous society has a second chance."
#
AN: Special thanks to Seana, Jebest4781, vividlearner744, OmegaDelta, Henry Stickman, fearmegu, Kitsune Robyn, Dragon lord, Shooter1344, Ajax Roranson, trey, Asaf, DJC, Alex, nighnight, SpeX, Smoking_ash12, AF360, Adam, yosief, VaneixusPrime, Bowsmen, JamPoe81, Lord McDeath, Alex, Mystbornwolf, A Nameless Hobo, BigTyson, Andr, A Vlogs, Nezih, Giorgie, Mahomed, puggle, Awesomesauce, Blacklionpride24, eric, Space core, asdo, Satan King, Dale, Elemental Lord, Rad Bman, Tyler, Spartano, THEREAL, Peter, Jose, WeirdoNerdo, Adam, Gage, Anthony, Louis, Homicidalbunny, Mario!
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