Superman in Marvel
Chapter 9: A Fortress Among the Stars
The Decision to Leave
Ethan stood outside his Kryptonian ship, staring up at the night sky.
The cold Antarctic wind howled around him, but he barely noticed. His mind was elsewhere—on the future, on what came next.
SHIELD was watching.
They hadn't been able to track him once he entered the blackout zone around the ship, but that wouldn't last forever. Sooner or later, they would find a way.
And when they did, they would come.
He wasn't ready for that yet.
Not until he had a place of his own. A sanctuary. A fortress.
But Earth wasn't safe.
No matter where he built it, someone would find it eventually. Governments, spies, people who feared what they didn't understand.
So he looked elsewhere.
Mars.
It was perfect.
Barren. Isolated. No satellites, no eyes watching. And with his strength, the journey wouldn't be an issue.
Ethan took a deep breath. His time on Earth wasn't over, not by a long shot. But for now, he needed space.
Lifting the Ship
He turned back to the Kryptonian vessel. The ship had been buried for years, but it wasn't immobile. It was still intact, still operational—though only barely. The damage from Krypton's destruction had left it crippled.
So, he would move it himself.
Planting his feet firmly in the icy ground, Ethan placed both hands against the side of the ship. He took a deep breath, feeling the dense metal under his fingers, and then—
He lifted.
The ice cracked beneath him. The ship groaned, ancient metal resisting for only a moment before yielding to his strength.
Slowly, steadily, he lifted it free from its icy tomb.
Within seconds, the massive vessel hovered above the frozen wasteland.
Ethan exhaled.
It was time.
Leaving Earth's Atmosphere
He floated upward, carrying the ship with him.
Higher.
Faster.
Within moments, he had broken through the cloud layer. The world stretched below him, vast and blue, the land and ocean blending together in a breathtaking view.
It was the first time he had ever truly left Earth's grasp.
A part of him felt guilty. He hadn't even told his family where he was going. But this was necessary.
He clenched his fists and pushed forward.
The atmosphere thinned, the sky darkening into the cold void of space. If anyone on Earth had been tracking him, they would have lost him the moment he left their range.
No radar could follow him now.
Ethan turned his gaze forward.
Mars awaited.
Reaching Mars
The journey took minutes.
Not hours. Not days. Minutes.
The red planet loomed before him, its surface barren and untouched. No wind, no water—just endless dust and rock.
Perfect.
Ethan descended, the Kryptonian ship following close behind. His enhanced vision scanned the planet, searching for a suitable location.
He didn't want to build the fortress on the surface. Too exposed. Too easy to spot if anyone ever did come looking.
Instead, he looked underground.
After a moment, he found what he was looking for—a massive cavern beneath the surface, sealed away for millions of years. It was deep, hidden, and structurally sound.
Exactly what he needed.
Ethan punched through the ground.
The Martian rock gave way like paper, sending debris flying. Within seconds, he had created a massive opening, wide enough to fit the ship through.
He lowered the Kryptonian vessel into the cavern, settling it deep within Mars' crust.
Once inside, he placed the first of the Fortress Crystals into the ground.
Immediately, the cavern shifted.
The walls smoothed. The air became breathable. Light pulsed through the structure as Kryptonian technology began constructing his new home.
A Fortress of Solitude.
A place only he could access.
He stepped back, watching as the underground fortress took shape. Within minutes, it was done.
His sanctuary.
His first step toward something greater.
Ethan exhaled, placing his hand against the smooth metal walls.
This was just the beginning.