"That's enough, Green Lantern," Wonder Woman called, halting Hal mid-attack.
She turned to Batman, her cloak of black flowing around her.
"I am Wonder Woman, it's good to see you again, Batman."
Batman's gaze remained fixed, unyielding.
"I don't believe we've met before."
He stepped back, preparing to leave.
"I don't know who you are, but Gotham is not a place for you."
"Even regarding the Court of Owls?" Wonder Woman's voice cut through the air.
Batman paused.
"What?"
"I know you are currently entangled with the Court of Owls and the League of Assassins.
I can provide assistance—if you are willing to believe we are not your enemies."
Batman studied her silently before answering, "That depends on you, not me."
"Of course."
Wonder Woman stepped closer, her tone firm but measured.
"At least now we have a basis for trust."
She glanced at Hal, whose expression revealed complete confusion.
"And we both have someone we want to confront right now."
Hal froze, unsure how to respond.
---
Kent Farm, late night.
Adrian was about to rest when he noticed Clark sleepwalking again, moving toward the cave he had buried earlier.
Frowning, Adrian rose, activated his super-speed, and left the farmhouse in an instant.
A gust of wind swept the curtains aside as he vanished.
He reached the cave entrance, its secrets of Krypton lying ahead.
Dim, scattered lights illuminated the rough interior, guiding him deeper.
Clark stood before a stone wall etched with Kryptonian script, bathed in a silvery glow.
"Clark?" Adrian called, his voice firm.
Clark turned, eyes blazing white, staring at him expressionlessly.
"Can you hear me?" Adrian asked, stepping closer.
No response came, and suddenly, a surge of energy shot from Clark's hand toward Adrian.
He dodged instinctively, the beam striking the wall with a deafening explosion.
Adrian moved swiftly to Clark, slapping him sharply.
The white light in Clark's eyes vanished, as did the energy illuminating the wall.
Clark blinked, dazed, pressing a hand to his face.
"Adrian?" His voice was hazy.
"You were sleepwalking and unstable.
You attacked me, but luckily, your aim was off," Adrian said, ignoring Clark's murmured apologies as he examined the Kryptonian inscriptions.
Clark rubbed his forehead.
"Am I…Did hurt you?"
"Not yet," Adrian replied evenly.
"And don't worry about apologizing. Sleepwalking isn't something you can control."
He turned toward the cave exit.
"Come on. If your parents notice, you'll have a lot of explaining to do."
Clark watched Adrian's retreating figure, fists clenched.
His eyes burned with determination as he faced the wall.
"You will never control me.
Try to harm my brother, and even if I destroy myself, I will take you with me."
With that, he left the cave, fists relaxing, his decision made.
Anyone threatening those closest to him would find no possibility of reconciliation.
---
The next morning.
Clark approached Pete with urgency.
"Pete, I need your help."
"What kind of help?" Pete asked, putting away his football jersey.
Though mostly a benchwarmer, being on the football team gave him a sense of pride.
"The chlorine, hydrogen, and magnesium from the chemistry lab—I need them."
Pete froze.
"You… sure?"
Clark's expression left no room for doubt.
Pete realized his friend's urgency was serious.
"This is dangerous, Clark.
Even aside from school rules, this could get us blown up."
"I don't have time to argue.
Yesterday I attacked Adrian.
I don't know who I might hurt next.
If anyone I care about is in danger, I have no choice," Clark said, tension in his voice.
Pete hesitated, then nodded.
"Alright. Ten o'clock tonight, meet here."
---
Ten o'clock at night.
Dark clouds blanketed the campus.
Clark and Pete reached the chemistry lab.
Pete eyed the locked door nervously.
Clark twisted the doorknob, and the lock clicked open effortlessly.
"Oh, right," Pete muttered.
"Forgot you're strong enough to break anything."
Inside, they lifted the cylinders of chlorine and hydrogen.
"So, now what?" Pete asked.
"Leave," Clark replied.
His focus was sharp.
He carried the dangerous chemicals with ease, but Pete's unease grew.
"Be careful. One wrong move…"
"I'll be careful," Clark said, setting the cylinders down.
He unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the burned mark on his chest.
Pete's eyes widened.
"Oh my God! Clark, what does this mean?"
"It's my birth father," Clark said solemnly.
"The spaceship Adrian hid in the cave at Hatchet Creek can still control me.
There are Kryptonian ruins and writings there."
Pete shook his head.
"Your parents must be worried, and Adrian too."
"They don't know yet," Clark said, buttoning his shirt.
"I haven't told them.
Even if I did, they'd never allow me to do what must be done.
I'm going to destroy him."
Clark's gaze was intense, serious, and anxious, his calm demeanor gone.
Pete stammered.
"This is insane!
He could… you could die!"
Clark's brow twitched but his resolve remained.
"I am not a man.
I am dynamite."
The words echoed in his mind, Nietzsche's line Chloe had shared: I am not a man. I am dynamite.