The Odyssey: Part 1, The Lotus Flowers.

"Muse, tell me of a man who was made to wander far and long. Many were the men whose lands he saw and came to know their thinking."
-Homer, The Odyssey

The bus ride from Florida to Tennessee took a full day to travel, but luckily you had a comfortable seat and a phone filled with music.

The bus finally reached it's destination in the morning, a small town called Harlock.

You were oddly the only one who got off the bus, and the bus stop itself was empty.

The bus drove off into the morning light, leaving you alone.

You walked into the town, and you didn't see a soul.

As you explored the town, you noticed that a quaint, country restaurant was open, and housed some people within.

You went into the restaurant, and saw a busy restaurant in the midst of it's breakfast rush.

You took a seat at a table next to a window, and saw that the once dead town was lively with people, as if they waited for you to sit down.

A waitress in a ponytail came to your table.

Waitress: Welcome to Don's Country Grill, how can I help you?

The waitress seemed more focused on everyone else in the diner more than you.

X: I will take the cheapest thing you have.

The waitress nervously wrote your order down on a small clipboard.

Waitress: Sure thing sugar.

You noticed that the waitress had well formed buns, but your attention came to something else.

Everyone in the restaurant gave you a glance, then quickly turned away, as if they were spying on you.

The waitress soon returned with a surprisingly large steak dinner.

X: That's cheap?

Waitress: It's on the house, we like to welcome new people.

X: T-Thanks!

You ate the steak dinner, which was even more delicious than it looked.

You noticed once again that the people in the restaurant watched you sneakily.

Feeling uneasy, you left the restaurant, but got stopped by the waitress as you walked outside.

Waitress: H-Hey! Are you staying for the day?

X: Yeah, I got a long trip ahead of me, I gotta resupply before I go.

Waitress: In that case, there is a hotel down the street that belongs to Ol' Hank, tell him I sent you and he will give you a room for free.

A surprised smile came over your face.

X: You guys know how to make people feel welcome.

Waitress: It's part of our charm.

X: What's your name?

Waitress: Anne, you?

X: Friends call me X

Anne: Hehe, okay, X.

You gave Anne a warm handshake, and walked to Ol' Hank's Hotel.

The hotel seemed somewhat well kept from the outside, same for the inside.

You looked for someone who worked at the hotel, but found nothing but silence.

Voice: Can I help ya?

A deep voice from behind scared you.

You turned and saw a old, bearded man standing close to you.

X: A-Anne said that you would give me a free room.

The old man inspected you, and seemed focused on the back of your neck.

Old man: Alright, Your in room fourteen on the second floor.

X: Thank you mister?

Old man: Hank.

The name "Ol' Hank's Hotel" seemed to make more sense.

The room you were given was much like the rest of the building, somewhat well kept.

You threw your backpack on the bed, and looked out your room window.

You were unnerved by the fact that everyone who passed on the street gave you a passing glance.

You wrote it off as small town curiosity, and fell on your bed, where you fell in a deep sleep.

You dreamed of a massive, planet sized circular machine, and deep within it, sat a shadowy figure on a throne.

Figure: Long. Live. The. King.

You jumped awake, unsure of your dream.

You sat on the edge of your bed, trying to regain your self.

The silence of your room was broken by the sound of ferocious knocking on your door.

Hank: Hey! It's Hank! Quick, open up!

You jumped off your bed and opened the door, and saw Hank covered in blood and holding a shotgun.

X: What the hell happened Hank?!

Hank: It was Jim! The town mechanic! He is one of 'em!

X: One of what!?

You heard footsteps come up the stairs.

Hank: Oh god! There comin'!

You took your gun from your backpack, and aimed it at the doorway.

To your surprise, you saw Anne, in torn clothes, enter the doorway.

Anne: They're outside! We're surrounded!

X: Who!? What is going on!?

Anne: It's everyone in town! We're the only people who haven't been stung!

X: Stung by what!?

Hank: The bees, those damned varmints take control of anyone they sting!

Anne: A whole swarm attacked town yesterday, me and Hank are the only ones who didn't get stung.

X: But everyone seemed fine when I arrived.

Hank: That's how they get ya! They get you to drop your guard and that's when they sting ya!

You cautiously peaked out your window, and saw the townspeople standing motionless outside, their eyes glazed over with beehive combs.

X: Okay, okay! Let's stop and think! Do the townspeople have a base or something?

Anne: Each night, they all gather at the town hall, we don't know why.

X: Bees serve a queen, so logically the town hall is where the queen is.

Anne: Sounds reasonable, but how will we get past the townspeople?

X: I think they want me, so I will head to town hall to try and stop this.

Anne: They want you? Why?

X: Long story, just stay here, lock the door behind me.

You aimed your gun forward, cautious of any hidden threats, and left the room, but was stopped by Anne.

Anne gave you a kiss on your cheek.

Anne: Stay safe sugar.

Anne locked the door behind you, and you slowly walked downstairs.

You came down to the lobby, which was dead quiet, and opened the front door of the hotel.

You were met with the dead gaze of the brain dead townspeople.

You held your gun over your head, and unloaded it, letting the bullets drop on your shoulder and on the ground.

X: Do you hear me?! I know you are here for me! Leave them alone, and take me! End this madness!

Two tall and built townsmen grabbed by the arms and dragged you to the town hall.

From the outside, the town hall seemed normal, but was shockingly different on the inside.

Within the town hall, the walls were overtaken with large beehive combs, with honey, or a substance similar, dripping down from them.

You were dragged through the main hall, and into a court room.

The court room was turned into a beehive comb lined throne room, complete with a ornate throne.

On the throne sat a woman in a tight, bee themed costume, with her hair somehow held completely up.

The townsmen forced you to your knees, in front of their queen.

The queen stood from her throne, and held your chin in her hand.

Queen Bee: So, you are the legendary X, how I have wanted to meet you.

X: Are you a fan?

Queen Bee: Oh yes, I have been curious of the power you have within you, o hear that you are immensely powerful.

X: Sounds like you know more about me than I do.

Queen Bee: So you don't understand your powers?

X: Nope.

Queen Bee: Well, either way, I will claim the bounty on you, but I want to see it first.

X: See what?

Queen Bee: The power in you, I want to witness the what you are.

X: You're out of luck, I can't control it.

Queen Bee: On the contrary, your power, much like mine, is connected to your mind, so all you need is the right "encouragement".

Queen Bee held your face close to hers, and gave you a passionate kiss.

After Queen Bee disengaged her lips from yours, you felt uneasy.

Queen Bee: Mmm, you have a provocative tongue, if not for the bounty on your head, I would keep you for "personal needs"

You felt a pain across your entire body.

X: W-What did you do to me?

Queen Bee: I had a powerful toxin on my lips, now your entire body is beginning to shut down.

You collapsed onto the floor, and felt a warm feeling in your chest.

Queen Bee: If I am correct, your powers will save your life, though that is just a theory.

The warmth in your chest grew more intense.

With a great burning sensation, you exploded with energy, and when you came to, found yourself surrounded by various floating weapons spinning around you.

Queen Bee: Incredible!

You looked closely at the weapons, and reached for a spear.

With energy flowing in your arms, you threw the spear at Queen Bee, who barely dodged it.

The townspeople swarmed you, and you used a great battle axe to defeat them with ease.

Fearing your power, Queen Bee used a swarm of bees to fly through the court house roof, and you followed her, afraid she would return to hurt Anne and Hank.

You grabbed Queen Bee mid flight, who threw you off and sent a swarm of bees to dispatch you.

You summoned a shield to guard yourself from the bees, and lunged at Queen Bee with a great hammer.

You struck Queen Bee with the mighty hammer, stunning her, and struck her once again, sending her to the ground in a large shockwave.

You descended to see Queen Bee unconscious, and the townspeople under her control on the ground, unconscious as well.

Anne and Hank came out of the hotel to see what had happened, and was surprised to see that you were victorious.

As the two examined the damage of the town, you quietly left.

Anne noticed you and shouted at you.

Anne: Are you one of those superheroes?

You turned to face her.

X: I guess I am.

You left the town, and continued your odyssey on foot.

Timeskip, the far reaches of the galaxy
Superman came to meet a powerful foe to learn more about X

Superman entered a dark spaceship, and once inside, came into a central control room

In the center of the room sat a figure on a dark throne.

Superman: You know why I am here.

The throne turned to reveal one of Superman's greatest enemies.

Brainiac: Kal-El, we have much to discuss....