Watchtower

"Absolutely not," said Batman. He stood in the meeting room of the Justice League's Watchtower. Also present were Superboy, Steel and the man who called the meeting—Clark Kent.

"We don't have a lot of options right now," said Clark. "Or resources for that matter. All the Green Lanterns are currently off-world, same with J'onn. Ollie's got problems of his own in Star City, Diana has matters to handle in Themyscria and Arthur's been unreachable."

"I can call in the rest of the Titans," said Superboy.

"No." The response came simultaneously from Batman and Clark.

"Why not?" asked Superboy.

"Kon, I'm taking a huge risk to begin with just by having you involved. I'm not going to risk the rest of the Titans over this," said Clark.

"But instead you're willing to make a deal with the devil," said Steel.

"He's probably the most intelligent man in the world." Clark turned his gaze on the Batman. "And you know it. That kind of intelligence is what we need to finish this before it becomes a bigger problem than it already is."

"So how are we gonna do this?" asked Superboy.

"You and Steel can hold your own, at least for a time," said Clark. "That will give the rest of us the time we need to finish him off."

"I don't like the idea of going into this without added strength—or with him," said Batman.

"I know you don't, and I do respect that. But like I said, we don't have many options. We need someone who's willing to take us that extra step if it becomes necessary," said Clark. "And Lex Luthor is not only ruthless and intelligent, but he's more than willing to kill Superman if it comes down to that."

"Fine," said Batman.

Daily Planet

Perry White scanned through the photographs on Jimmy’s digital camera. He glanced from them up to Jimmy, then back to the camera. After a few moments, he set the camera down on his desk.

"Well?" asked Jimmy.

"We got a story to go with these pictures?" asked Perry.

"Well… not necessarily…" said Jimmy.

Perry shifted in his chair and looked down at his watch. Without looking up, he asked, "where’s Kent?"

"He’s out of town, Chief," said Jimmy. Perry shot him a look at the mention of that nickname and Jimmy flinched. "You told him to take a vacation, remember?"

"Caesar’s ghost…" Perry lowered his head and rubbed his temples. "That’s the last time I ever tell someone to take some time off. These photos are front page material and we need a story to go with ‘em." He paused, then looked up at Jimmy. Then he pointed at the photographer. "You."

Jimmy glanced from his left to his right, then returned Perry’s stare with a look of shock. He pointed to himself. "Me?"

"You were there. You write the story," said Perry.

"I dunno about that…"

"C’mon, you were a big-time reporter for GBS, weren’t you?" asked Perry.

"Until I was fired…"

"For refusing to air a bullshit story. That’s the kind of reporting the Planet needs. You’ve been here long enough, you’ve worked with both Lois and Clark. And no one knows Superman better than the three of you. Plus, you were at the scene."

Jimmy released a nervous laugh. "You’ve gotta be joking."

Perry folded his arms across his chest and his face remained as stern as ever. "Olsen, do I look like I’m joking?"

Jimmy glanced down at his shoes. "No… no sir."

Perry practically sprang from his chair and pointed to the door. "Then get the hell out of my office and get me at least five-hundred words on this story!"

"Right, I’m on it, Chief," said Jimmy. He scampered out of the office.

"And don’t call me Chief!"

Lex Luthor stepped outside his house dressed in khakis and a polo shirt in what appeared to be a peaceful neighborhood nestled in suburbia. He picked up the newspaper and opened it up, briefly thumbing through it.

He turned and walked back inside his house. He noticed a tall man with glasses slicked-back dark hair, dressed in jeans, a button-down shirt, and a Smallville High letter jacket. The man sat in a recliner in Luthor’s living room.

"Mr. Kent," said Luthor. He dropped the paper on the coffee table and sat across from his uninvited guest. "This is certainly a surprise. To what do I owe this displeasure?"

"I need to talk to you, Lex," said Clark.

"I can see that," said Luthor. "I don’t see any other reason why you’d risk breaching Haven’s security."

Haven was the name of the "suburb" Luthor currently inhabited. In truth, the image of a suburb was a façade. Haven was actually a hi-tech prison designed to hold so-called mad scientists like himself. The most intelligent criminal minds in the world were housed here, and they were allowed to live in relative comfort in hopes that it would dissuade them from using their genius to wreak havoc on mankind.

Luthor glanced over his shoulder. "You can come out now. I already know you’re here."

Batman moved from behind the curtains and stepped into view. "How’d you know?"

"I didn’t," said Luthor. "But no one is better at getting into places he’s not wanted than the Batman. And I know Kent doesn’t have the skills to sneak into Haven undetected on his own. At least… not now that he and the alien seems to have been separated."

Clark’s eyebrows went up in surprise. Luthor turned his glance back to Clark and smiled. "That’s right. I know your secret."

"Black wiped that information from your mind," said Batman.

"Oh, he did. But it appears that Tockman’s attempt to collapse the timestream ended up with some… unforeseen consequences." Luthor leaned forward and picked up the newspaper. "And judging from the front page of the Daily Planet as well as this surprise visit, the return of my memory is the least of your worries."

Luthor dropped the paper on the table and relaxed in his recliner. "He’s gone insane, hasn’t he? Using forceful tactics that he’s never used before. He’s become corrupted by his power. The equivalent of using a shotgun to take out a housefly. And now, you’re worried it’s only a matter of time before he decides to simply exert his will over the rest of the planet. Isn’t that true?"

"That’s why we’re going to stop him before it gets to that point," said Clark. "We need your help, Lex."

Luthor tapped his fingers on the armrest, apparently in thought. He looked up and said, "no."

"Why not?" asked Batman. "Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted?"

Luthor turned his glance to the dark vigilante. "Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve always tried to kill Superman because of this possibility. It’s what I’ve always tried to prevent. That alien poses a bigger threat to humanity than the world’s entire nuclear arsenal combined. The worst that can do is wipe us all out. Him, though, he can enslave the entire planet in week, if not sooner." He turned to Clark. "You know that you were always more powerful than you let on. But you held back, didn’t you? Self-imposed limitations."

Clark flinched at Luthor’s words. Not because of the inherent accusation in them, but because Lex was right. Clark himself discovered firsthand how easy it was to push past his own limitations when he broke the time barrier to stop the Clock King.

"Then this is it," said Clark. "Everything you’ve feared is now coming true. So help us put a stop to it."

"Sorry, but I can’t," said Luthor.

"Why?" asked Clark.

"Just to watch us squirm," said Batman.

"Well yes, that’s an added bonus," said Luthor. "But also because today’s Wednesday. And Wednesday night is my weekly poker game with Professor Ivo, T.O. Morrow and Dr. Sivana." He stood from his chair and walked to the front door, holding it open. "Now if you gentlemen would excuse me, I have some reading to catch up on."

"Let’s go," said Batman. "It’s obvious we’re wasting our time."

Clark stood from his chair and walked over to Luthor. "We need your help. There’s a reason you’ve been such a thorn in my side all these years. Lex, you’re quite possibly the smartest man on the planet. Without Clark Kent, Superman's become what you've always feared—corrupted by his powers. No humanity to anchor him. And if anyone’s capable of defeating a rogue Superman, it’s you."

Luthor considered Clark’s words, then closed the door. He walked back over to the recliner and sat down, interlocking his fingers and resting his two index fingers on his chin. "So what’s our plan?"

Arctic North

Superman descended into the giant, crystalline fortress located in the frigid North Pole. The Fortress of Solitude, his only link to his homeworld of Krypton, had now become his permanent home.

Since the split of the Clark Kent persona from his being, he felt free to fully devote himself to the protection of mankind. No worries about maintaining a human life. And soon, he could begin creating a utopia for the people of Earth.

He hovered over to a column in the center of the fortress. As he raised his fingertips over, the crystals began to glow and hum and rose, ready for his command. His hearing picked up additional sounds beyond the ones he was accustomed to in the fortress. A hum of machinery.

"Hello Steel," he said. Across the large gap, John Henry Irons stood beside a younger version of the Last Son of Krypton. Superman turned but his expression remained stoic. "And Superboy. What can I do for you both?"

"Have you gone mental?" asked Superboy.

"Kon," said Steel, placing a hand on his young partner’s shoulder. Superboy pulled away from him.

"What are you talking about?" asked Superman.

"The stuff with those Intergang guys at the bank, then flash-frying Grundy," said Superboy.

"I did what needed to be done," said Superman. "They were threats to the people of Metropolis, so I eliminated those threats."

"Never heard you talk like that before," said Steel.

"That’s because I’ve come to a realization," said Superman. "In order to make this world a better place, we have to take drastic steps. Stopping a few metahuman threats here and there, then tossing them in a place like Stryker’s or Belle Reve or the Slab and having them break out again? That’s not going to solve any problems. We need to make examples of people."

"No, we’ve gotta set examples for people," said Superboy. "That’s what you taught me."

"I was wrong, Kon-El," said Superman. "Now if the two of you will excuse me, I have work to do."

"What kind of work would that be?" asked Steel.

"I’m working to interface the Kryptonian technology of the Fortress with the rest of the world," said Superman. "With this technology at my fingertips, I can be appraised of everything going on around the world at all times. I can rebuild the Superman robots, have them respond to threats when I’m unable to."

"Big Brother to the world, huh?" asked Steel.

"If that’s what’s necessary, then yes," said Superman.

"And where’s the line?" asked Steel. "Right now, you’re intent on just stopping any kind of threat to utopia. What constitutes a threat? How soon before just thinking about going against the grain is considered a threat? What’s the difference between utopia and fascism?"

"You’re too human to understand," said Superman.

"Since when is being human a bad thing?" asked Steel.

Superman turned from the column and glared at Steel, his eyes glowing a bright red. "Since you first appeared and threw away every chance you were given at creating a perfect world. Instead, you’d rather kill each other and destroy the planet. I won’t stand by and watch as arrogance destroys another world."

"This doesn’t sound like something Superman would say," said Superboy.

"And just what would you know about being Superman?" he asked. "You’re nothing more than a pale imitation. Kryptonian DNA corrupted with human DNA."

"Alright, that tears it!" exclaimed Superboy. He rocketed from his position towards Superman.

"Kon, no!" Steel cried out. His words came too late, however. Superboy slammed into the man who was once his mentor and the pair crashed through the roof of the Fortress.

"And to think, I used to wanna be like you," said Superboy, as he kept his grip on Superman pushing the two of them towards the Earth’s atmosphere.

An immense dose of heat vision engulfed the Boy of Steel, but he kept his grip despite the searing pain. Superman grabbed the young man’s hair and forcefully pulled him away. While holding him in place, Superman delivered several punches in quick succession, each of them traveling at superhuman speed. He reached down towards the red shield on Superboy’s black shirt and tore it free.

"You’ll never be good enough to wear this symbol," said Superman. With the torn piece of cloth grasped in his fist, he delivered another punch and this time, Superboy fell towards the arctic waters below.