The Man of Tomorrow -- An ElseWorld Smallville mini-series

[SSJConan]

So a long time ago, I came up with this fanedit idea to re-edit Smallville into a mini-series spanning 10-11 episodes, or "Acts" as I came to call them (10 Acts and an Epilogue). The core idea of The Man of Tomorrow is to use footage straight from the television series itself, with very minimal material from other live-action elements, to craft together an alternate experience of the Smallville story. This isn't my attempt at saying my ideas and takes are better than what the television show itself pulled off, just a creative revamp of what the story could've been if told in a different format.

So what I ended up doing over a very long period of time was followed the series and jotted down episodes, scenes, story contexts, along with the most major and minor moment I truly felt could tell a more faithful story to the various classic Superman mythos and still stay very respectful to the show itself. In the format of a mini-series, this allows The Man of Tomorrow to span time much quicker than the ten seasons covered in the core series, for example Clark's time in high school is covered within the first three Acts. He still has that transitional time between graduation and taking on the mantle of a dual-identity in Metropolis, not fully doing such till around the end of Act 5. But between the middle of Act 3 and end of Act 5, I did find I could craft together a gripping transition including the character's world travels (which the series itself never really tackles), returning home to his family, Fortress Training, and the goodbyes needed to make before venturing to Metropolis.

With the limits the series presented, there was only so much differing story material I could do in terms of Clark's actual time in Metropolis, though I do save the first time he formally meets Lois and Jimmy for when he gets his job at the Daily Planet. How am I doing things like that and the world travels with Smallville material, you'll be surprised how so many different story contexts can be melded together to bring that into possibility. On the same token the limits within Smallville are challenging in that I only had a very small percentage of iconic Superman material, still had to save fully mastering flight for as late as Act 10 (though each prior Act does have at least one moment building toward that), and only had so much material to sneak in with Clark wearing a pair of Glasses (you can only count on two hands how many eps have that, though this time it's his own idea!).

Some ideas I have may not be very popular, Chloe pretty much vanishes after high school graduation, I don't give Clark and Lex a doomed friendship (though they do meet in identical circumstances and maintain a strange afar bond over this story), I do manage to sneak in a few other DC heroes for minor roles (two of them are mere cameos and only one has a speaking role) while still toning down how much of the broader DC mythos to include, and the second half of the story's main baddie is Zod. Sadly I wasn't able to include nearly as much Jimmy Olsen material as I wanted in context of the kinda story I wanted to tell, he does have a major role in Act 5, but for the most part his presence and Perry White's even more are much less than in the genuine series. Fair warning to Lana fans, her part of the story is also done not too long after Chloe's, no longer appearing after Act 5.

As for some ideas that I have a fondness for, I did implement what I found to be some of Smallville's best action sequences and inclusions of Superman lore rogues. Now there is a very familiar story twist with Jonathan Kent in Act 4, but surprisingly I was still able to keep the character's presence very strong thanks to a few key returns from John Schneider, in fact Jonathan actually has more material with Clark in the second half of the story than Martha! I don't wanna give away too much, but I did wanna flesh out what I felt to be the best of Smallville's best moments in a totally different story perspective, but more than anything this story is still about the journey over the destination and some folks may be very surprised about how I crafted the evolution of Mr. Kent's dual-identity and war with a certain General.

Now to the big question some may have, what does this fanedit have to do with a fanfic, after all this is the fanedit forums! Answer is simple, I actually wrote down a scripted format of this fanedit in a thorough preparation for editing this mini-series together. The Man of Tomorrow is not written in the traditional format of how a fanfic or novel would be written, rather it's formatted more like a script transcribe. As you will all notice, every scene is taken straight from Smallville and therefore you will be able to see these scenes playing in your head as you read the dialogue and scene exposition-bits. I will post all 10 Acts and the climatic Epilogue, please do keep an open mind this is an ElseWorld and let me know what you all think!

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 1 ~ "When We Were Kids"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*Far off in a world not our own, we zoom in upward of an oval-shaped ship's interior where a baby in a yellow blanket is being placed inside.*

Jor-El: "Put him inside, Lara. Our time has passed. The hourglass is empty."

Lara: "What if they don't love him?"

Jor-El: "Lara, his destiny is set, as is ours."

Lara: "Goodbye, my sweet Kal-El."

*As the ship closes, the planet of Krypton can then be observed from on high as its gravitational pull is all the more drawn closer to its Red Sun of Rao, a Sun which then goes nova in destroying all of Krypton with itself and sends a meteor shower worth of rocks off into the distance.*


LOGO: "When We Were Kids"


*Some time later in the confines of our own solar system, the ship from Krypton is heading toward our humble planet of Earth with many of those meteors in tow, meanwhile a helicopter flies over a small Kansas town by the name of Smallville, a rich man and his young preteen son inside.*

Lionel: "This has gotta stop. Open your eyes, Lex!"

Lex: "I can't!"

Lionel: "Luthors are not afraid! We don't have that luxury, we're leaders! ...You have a destiny, Lex, you're never gonna get anywhere with your eyes closed!"


*Elsewhere in the town, a married farming couple head into a small flower shop where a toddler girl is playing like a fairy.*

Lana: "Abracadabra...!"

Jonathan: "Afternoon, Nell."

Nell: "Jonathan! ...Martha. What a surprise, what brings the reclusive Kents to town?"

Martha: "Tulips, red ones if you have them?"

Nell: "What about a tiger orchid?"

Jonathan: "No thanks, Martha has her heart set on tulips."

Nell: "Yes, well they are a very uncomplicated flower."

Martha: "That is a beautiful dress, Lana, are you a princess?"

Lana: "I'm a fairy princess."

Jonathan: "Hey, where are her parents?"

Nell: "Oh, they're at the homecoming game with everyone else, I'm being the good aunt."

Lana: "Do you wanna make a wish?"

Martha: "I would love to make a wish."

Lana: "Okay, abracadabra!"

*With a smile, Martha heads back out to the couple's truck with Jonathan as he loads it up and gets back in.*

Jonathan: "I know what you wished for."

Martha: "I see her little face, it's all I ever wanted."

*As the two kiss, they hear a car horn with various teens celebrating.*

Teen: "Yeah!"

Jonathan: "Hey, looks like Smallville won again."


*While the Kents get on their way home, the ship and meteors with it start passing through the Earth's atmosphere, meanwhile back with the Luthors.*

Lionel: "Lex, son! Now, where do I sign?"

Ross: "Right here, Mr. Luthor."

*As Lionel is preparing to sign a contract, Lex wanders alone through the cornfields to become startled by a distant voice.*

Scarecrow kid: "Help me... Help me, please..."

*As Lex runs through the field in a frantic haste, he trips and comes upon a scarecrow post.*

Scarecrow kid: "Hey, kid... Help me! Help me, please..."

*With fear on his face, Lex then sees a meteor soaring to Earth behind this teenager, making impact as the shockwave and smoke approach the both of them in a huge engulfing while back in town.*

Nell: "What on God's Earth?"

*Lana's parents return to Main Street across the way from the two.*

Mrs. Lang: "Hi, Lana!"

Lana: "Mommy, Daddy!"

*In a shock of a moment, the second meteor to impact hits Lana's parents, killing them as subsequent meteorites in this shower fall upon Smallville.*

Lana: "Help... please...!"

*Back on the road, Jonathan and Martha are attempting to escape the rough conditions of this meteor shower.*

Martha: "What's happening, Jonathan!?"

*As what they believe to be a meteor impacts the road in front of them, Jonathan hits the break in flipping their truck into an unknown fate as Lionel is trying all he can to find his missing son.*

Lionel: "Lex, Lex! Where are you!?"

*Seeing nothing but downed cornfield crops, Lionel comes upon a sample of red hair, eventually seeing Lex partially buried under a small amount of crops.*

Lionel: "Lex, Lex!"

*Finding his boy still alive, Lionel is taken seriously aback to find him not only mentally traumatized by this incident, but physically traumatized in the loss of his hair, now ensuring emotional traumatizing in the distant steps he's taking.*


*Back with the Kents, the truck is flipped upside down and Jonathan is starting to come to as he sees what appears to be a toddler's feet walking up to his side of the truck.*

Jonathan: "Martha...?"

*With Martha also coming to, the couple are found by what is clearly a small toddler, the pair managing to get out of the truck as they stumble through the crater with this boy in their arms.*

Jonathan: "Kids just don't fall out of the sky, Martha."

Martha: "Then where did he come from?"

Jonathan: "I don't know, but he must have parents..."

*The trio find their way to what is obviously a small alien spacecraft which carried the child.*

Martha: "Well, if he does, they're definitely not from Kansas."

*As Martha looks at the boy with much love in her eyes, Jonathan shows a passing moment of bewilderment at what to do now.*

Jonathan: "Sweetheart, we can't keep him. I mean, what're we gonna tell people, that we found him out in a field?"

Martha: "Well, we didn't find him. He found us."


*With the couple accepting this young boy into their own family, 12 years pass into the present day as an Internet-scrolling Clark Kent is about to head off from Kent farm into his Freshman Year.*

Martha: "Clark Kent, you're gonna be late for the bus!"

Clark: "Coming, Mom."

*Taking some milk out of the fridge, Clark's lightly chastised for how he's drinking it.*

Clark: "Tastes better out of the bottle!"

Martha: "Where'd you learn your manners?"

Clark: "On a farm!"

Jonathan: "Well, afternoon sleepy head!"

Martha: "Oh don't forget, I have class tonight, so you two are on your own. And don't order pizza, there's plenty of food in the fridge!"

Jonathan: "Hey, what ya' got there, son."

Clark: "Permission slip. It's for the football team. Couple of spots opened up, they're having tryouts this afternoon. Come on Dad, you played football in high school!"

Jonathan: "That was different, son."

Clark: "Why?"

Jonathan: "You know why..."

Clark: "Figure I'll run at half speed and I won't hit anybody."

Jonathan: "Lot of things can happen in the heat of the game, son."

Clark: "Most of the guys hardly even play! Chances are I'll ride the bench for half the season... Dad, I can be careful."

Jonathan: "I know that you can be careful, but what if there's an accident."

*Feeling defeated, Clark gives up trying to get his parents blessing for football for now.*

Jonathan: "Hey uh, look Clark, I know this has gotta be really hard for ya'. But ya' gotta just hang in there, like we promised?"

Clark: "Sick of hanging in there, all I wanna do is go through high school without being a total loser."


*Heading off as his parents share a somber moment at their boy not getting to experience as many normal things, Clark finds he's missing the bus as his friends look on inside, evidently having bet on this.*

Chloe: "I can't believe you bet against your best friend."

Pete: "Statistical fact, Clark moves any slower, he'd be extinct."

*While the kids chuckle inside, Clark brushes off the bitter moment of not catching his school bus and with a smile, super-speeds through the cornfields of the street in catching up and passing his friends as he jumps over.*

Chloe: "Did you hear that?"


*Heading to school, Pete and Chloe walk through the masses outside before Clark can catch up.*

Pete: "So, anyone ask you to the dance?"

Chloe: "Not yet."

Pete: "Well, if nothin' pans and with you and a-who, maybe you and..."

Chloe: "Pete, do you wanna take a commercial break from the soap opera in your head? I told you a hundred times, I'm not interested in Clark!"

Pete: "Your demon denial has been dually noted! Hey, maybe you and I can go together, I mean not as a date-date thing... more of a friend-friend thing."

Clark: "Hey, guys."

Chloe: "Auh... Didn't you just, weren't you...?"

Clark: "I took a shortcut."

Chloe: "Through what, a blackhole?"

Pete: "Clark, you'll have to excuse our intrepid reporter, seems as though her weirdar is on Defcon 5... She thought someone was attackin' the bus."

Chloe: "Okay, just because everyone chooses to ignore the strange things that happen in this leethy little hamlet, doesn't mean that they don't happen!"

Pete: "Now, you know that we'd love to join you and Scooby inside the Mystery Machine for another zany adventure, but uh we gotta hand in these permission slips before home room."

Clark: "Actually, Pete, I'm having second thoughts... I don't think signing up for the team is such a great idea."

Pete: "Clark, listen, this is the only way."

Chloe: "Wait, wait, wait... You two are trying out for the football team!? What is this, some sort of teen suicide pact?"

*Pete grabs Chloe by the hair as the trio heads off to talk in private.*

Pete: "We're trying to avoid becoming this year's scarecrow."

Chloe: "What are you talking about... and why are we whispering!?"

Pete: "It's a homecoming tradition. Every year before the big game, the football players select a Freshman. Take him off to Riley field, strip him down to his boxers and then paint an 'S' on his chest."

Clark: "And then string him up like a scarecrow."

Chloe: "Jeez, sounds like years of therapy waiting to happen."

Pete: "Well, I think we're trying out for the team, figuring they won't choose one of their own."

*His eyes catching notice of something else, Clark's attraction is pulled to one Lana Lang.*

Clark: "Hey, I'll see you guys in class."

Chloe: "Bye."

*Pete pulls out a five dollar bill in one more bet.*

Pete: "Give him ten seconds."

Chloe: "Five."

Pete: "One, two, three, four, fi--..."

*Clark trips on his way to talking with Lana as she bends down to help him with his books.*

Kid: "Nice, man!"

Chloe: "Statistical fact, Clark Kent can't get within five feet of Lana Lang without turning into a total freak-show."

Lana: "Nietzsche. Didn't realize you had a dark side, Clark."

Clark: "Doesn't everybody?"

Lana: "Yeah, I guess so... So what are you, man or Superman?"

Clark: "I haven't figured it out yet."

Whitney: "Lana, there you are."

*Lana's boyfriend comes up to give her a kiss.*

Whitney: "Hi, Clark."

*Clark nerves up a slight smile of respect as Whitney's attentions move to Lana.*

Whitney: "I was wondering if you could do me a humongous favor. Could you check over my English paper? I didn't finish it until 3 AM, so I'm not too sure about the ending."

Lana: "I'll bet it's great!"

*The two notice Clark's illness.*

Whitney: "Dude, are you alright? Ya' look like you're about to, to hurl..."

Clark: "F-fine!"

Whitney: "Ya' forgot one, Clark."


*Whitney tosses Clark the last book he drops as he geekily drops them all and the day passes on by to when a young bald man in his early 20s is driving fast through the town's streets, Clark Kent meanwhile pondering his life into the distance atop a bridge, Lex Luthor's cell phone disturbs his driving as he accidentally comes upon running over this stranger kid.*

*Deep beneath the Elbow River, Clark rips oven the roof of Lex's car and brings him to shore for CPR, saving his life as Luthor comes to seeing the face of the man he believed to hit.*

Clark: “Come on, don’t die on me.”

Lex: "Could've sworn I hit you!"

Clark: "If you did, I'd be... I'd be dead."

*Looking at the demolished bridge in wonder, Clark doesn't know what to think in discovering his invulnerability.*

Lex: "Hey, hey kid, you okay?"

Clark: "Yeah... fine..."

*Clark passes out as some brief time passes to when the two are being assisted by local authorities and Jonathan finds them.*

Jonathan: "Clark! Son, are you alright?"

Clark: "Yeah, I'm okay."

Jonathan: "Who's the maniac who was driving that car!?"

Lex: "That would be me, Lex Luthor."

*Being offered a handshake, Jonathan opts to wrapping his coat around Clark rather than accepting Lex's hand.*

Jonathan: "Jonathan Kent! This is my son."

Lex: "Thanks for saving my life."

Clark: "I'm sure you would've done the same thing."

Lex: "You have quite an extraordinary boy, Mr. Kent, if there's any way I can repay you..."

Jonathan: "Drive slower."

*Seeing the two Kent men head off with a red cape-like blanket around young Clark, Lex looks back at his devastated car being lifted out of the river, looking into the distance at where to go from here.*


*Later at the Kent barn, Jonathan comes to a pondering Clark in the loft with something in his hands.*

Jonathan: "It's time, son."

Clark: "Time for what?"

Jonathan: "The truth."

*As Jonathan reveals to Clark the piece of his ship, the small part is unwrapped.*

Jonathan: "I want you to take a look at something... I think it's from your parents, your, your real... parents."

Clark: "What is it?"

Jonathan: "I tried to decipher it for years, but it's not written in any language known to man."

Clark: "What do you mean?"

Jonathan: "Your real parents weren't exactly from around... here."

Clark: "Where are they from?"

*All Jonathan can do is look up at the sky as Clark joins him baffled with a scoff.*

Clark: "What are you trying to tell me, Dad? That I'm from another planet?"

*Jonathan just looks at his son.*

Clark: "And I suppose you stashed my spaceship in the attic?"

Jonathan: "Actually, it's in the storm cellar...!"

*Jonathan reveals to Clark his ship within the cellar.*

Jonathan: "This is how you came into our world, son. It was the day of the meteor shower."

Clark: "Wait, this is a joke, right? ...Why didn't you tell me about this before!?"

Jonathan: "We wanted to protect you."

Clark: "Protect me from what!? You should've told me!"

*Clark super-speeds off as Jonathan runs for him.*

Jonathan: "Clark...! Clark!"


*Later on that night, Lana rides atop a horse within the Smallville cemetary seemingly alone as she comes to the graves of her parents, only to notice she may not be as alone as she thought.*

Lana? "Who's there?"

Clark: "It's me... Clark."

Lana: "Clark Kent? What're you doing creeping around the woods?"

Clark: "You'd never believe me if I told you. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

Lana: "Clark, wait, I just wasn't expecting to see anyone out here. Are you okay?"

Clark: "I'm hanging out in a graveyard, this strike you as okay behavior?"

Lana: "Hey, I'm here, too."

Clark: "Good point... What's your story?"

Lana: "Can you keep a secret?"

Clark: "I'm the 'Fort Knox' of secrets."

Lana: "I came... out here to talk with my parents. You must think I'm pretty weird, you know, conversing with dead people."

Clark: "No, I--I don't think you're weird, Lana. Do you remember them?"

Lana: "Died when I was three."

Clark: "I'm sorry."

Lana: "It's not your fault, Clark. Come on, I'll introduce you."

*In a calm stride, Lana leads her new young friend over to the headstones of her parents.*

Lana: "Mom, Dad, this is Clark Kent. Say hi."

Clark: "...Hi..."

Lana: "Yeah, he is kinda shy. How should I know? Mom wants to know if you're upset about a girl?"

Clark: "No."

Lana: "Dad wants to know if you're upset about a guy."

Clark: "No, no!"

*Clark gets taken aback a bit, only for Lana to chuckle as she shows her sense of humor.*

Lana: "He has a twisted sense of humor. ...Seriously, Clark, why are you out here?"

Clark: "Lana, you ever feel like your life was supposed to be something different?"

Lana: "Sometimes I dream I'm at school waiting for Nell to pick me up, but she doesn't come, so my parents drive up and they're not dead they're just really late. Then I get in their car and we drive back to my real life in Metropolis. It's usually when I wake up... and for a minute, I'm totally happy, until I realize I'm still alone."

*As the fog starts to kick up within the night air around Lana, Clark decides to play his own part in conversing with her folks.*

Clark: "What's that, Mrs. Lang? Yeah, I'll--I'll tell her. Your Mom wants you to know that you're never alone. That she's always looking over you, no matter what. What's that, Mr. Lang? Your Dad thinks you're a shoe-in for homecoming queen."

Lana: "They really say all that?"

Clark: "Oh yeah, quite chatty once ya' get them started."


*The night comes to a close as the morning after these two teens became real friends, we find a person soaring of sorts through the predawn clouds of Smallville as suddenly, a floating Clark coming upon a sleeping Lana as she briefly awakens.*

Lana: "It's all your fault, Clark."

*As Clark looks baffled, just then he hears another voice as he wakes up from this dream, floating above his bed and crashing back down confused.*

Martha: "...Clark! Clark, we're leaving for the Farmer's Market in 15 minutes and you haven't done your chores yet!"


*With Clark's parents going to the Farmer's Market, he goes to school community service with Pete Ross.*

Pete: "Man, I don't know how I let you talk me into this."

Clark: "Every Smallville High student has to complete 30 hours of community service."

Pete: "Yeah, but we could've served our community service by life guarding the girls' swim class at the Y. Instead of hanging out with the denture crowd, I mean, what's the attraction?"

*Just then, Lana pops in.*

Lana: "Hi, Clark, Pete."

Clark: "Lana, I didn't know you were volunteering here?"

Pete: "Yeah right."

Lana: "For a couple of weeks now, are you part of the companion program?"

Clark: "Yeah, I'm reading with Cassandra."

Lana: "She's an interesting woman, some of the nurses say she can see the future."

*Clark and Pete come upon a room where an old blind lady seems to have an almost magical looking light to her touch.*

Cassandra: "It takes two of you to read to me now, does it? Well, don't just stand there, come in."

Clark: "How'd you know there were two of us?"

Cassandra: "I'm blind, not deaf. Heard your little friend's shoes squeaking all the way down the hall."

Pete: "Can you really tell the future?"

Clark: "Way to go, Pete, real subtle."

Cassandra: "What's your name?"

Pete: "Pete Ross."

Cassandra: "Mr. Ross, if you want your fortune told, go to the circus."

*Cassandra drops her book and Pete picks it up for her, only to exchange a contact of hands.*

Cassandra: "It's a long walk home, Mr. Ross. Check your pockets."

*Pete is in for a huge surprise as he checks.*

Pete: "Oh, man. I left my keys in the car. Dude, you're on your own."

Cassandra: "Now, what's your name?"


*Clark simply smiles toward the blunt, but charming lady, while later that day he has something to tell Jonathan on the Kent porch.*

Clark: "Dad, something else happened to me this morning. When I woke up, I was... kinda floating."

Jonathan: "Floating...?"

Clark: "As soon as I woke up, I crashed, I mean... Dad, what's happening to me?"

Jonathan: "I honestly don't know. As soon as you start breaking the law of gravity, we're definitely in uncharted territory."

Clark: "I just wish it would stop."

Jonathan: "Look, Clark, I'm your father. I'm supposed to have all the answers, it kills me that I don't, but... you gotta have faith! And we'll figure this thing out, together."

Clark: "I do. But this is happening to me and I'm scared!"


*The next day, Clark comes back to visit Cassandra again for a more interesting look at her ability.*

Clark: "What you told me, I can't get out of my head."

Cassandra: "Imagine how I feel. When it first started happening, I, I thought it was a curse. I kept getting snapshots of things, I couldn't control."

Clark: "When did they start?"

Cassandra: "When I first lost my sight. It's funny, I woke up that morning like any other. Then the meteors came. One hit a field by house, flash burnt my optic nerves."

Clark: "I'm sorry."

Cassandra: "It's not your fault. It's amazing how one moment can change your life forever."

Clark: "My friends and family, they think that you're..."

Cassandra: "A fraud, huh? People are afraid of the unknown, Clark. They only want to know if everything's gonna turn out alright, I can't guarantee that. What I can show you are... signposts on your journey, what you do with them is up to you."

Clark: "I've got so many questions in my life, I just want some answers."

Cassandra: "Closer."

*Cassandra motions to Clark to sit by her as he does so.*

Cassandra: "Now, take my hand."

*As Clark does so, a strange sequence of visions engulfs the both of them which begins with a look at President Luthor's brutal reign over the United States, then Lana passing a very old woman, until settling on a present-looking future-Clark in the middle of a massive graveyard alone and surrounded by the headstones of his parents, Chloe, Pete, and Lana.*

Clark: "No...! No! No!"

*The vision finally settles on a vision of the man's final fate as Superman's red cape with the yellow 'S' proudly on its back flow through a huge expansion of space until culminating the journey upon a solar-like celestial body.*

Clark: "...No...!"

*Back in the present, Clark is horrified at what he saw.*

Cassandra: "You saw that too...! Clark!"

*It's too late as he super-speeds off leaving Cassandra in somber regret.*


*The next day at school, Clark wonders where his life is heading in the middle of gym class with Pete as he checks out Lana.*

Coach: "That's the stuff! Let's go, come on! Let's go, hustle, hustle, hustle!"

Pete: "Keep your eyes in your head, man."

*Just then, Clark gets a strange headache.*

Coach: "Kent! Are we boring you?"

Clark: "No, I'm sorry, it's... my head hurts."

Coach: "That's because ya' need to get some blood pumping! Come on, you and Ross are next. Come on down, boys."

*Clark and Pete climb together as Clark lets his buddy win the race.*

Coach: "Come on, put a little muscle into it! Ross beats you, it's 10 laps! Come on, Clark, let's go! Move it, move it!"

Pete: “Looks like someone’s doin’ laps.”

*Pete beats Clark just as he's about to experience a bizarre X-Ray Vision of him.*

Pete: "Clark, man, what's wrong. Clark, man, what's wrong!?"

*Totally freaked out, Clark slips and falls on the gym floor.*

Pete: "Clark!"

Coach: "Woah, Kent! Are you alright!? Kent, what happened up there!?"

*Just then, Clark's X-Ray Vision kicks in gear as he accidentally sees into the girl's locker room and despite being caught off guard, doesn't mind the show once getting a glimpse at Lana, but later that afternoon at home.*

Martha: "So when you have these flashes, you can see through anything? People, objects?"

Clark: "Sometimes, I can see through things, other times it's like an X-Ray."

Jonathan: "And there's no warning, this just happens?"

Clark: "Well, I get a headache and then it hits me. I mean the first time, I thought I was hallucinating and then it happened again."

Martha: "Clark, I'm sure there's some way to control this."

Clark: "You guys, I can see through things, how do you control that?"

Martha: "You gotta practice, Clark. Your eyes have muscles, just like your legs."

Jonathan: "Your Mom is right, son. Look, all you have to do is you have to figure out a way to uh... condition them, so that you don't get these random flashes."

Clark: "I just wish I could control this."

Martha: "What if you try focusing it, you know, like a telescope."

*Jonathan suddenly stands up with an idea, reaching into his pocket for something.*

Jonathan: "Yea--You could start with something small. Try to tell me what I have in my hand right now."

*Clark takes a look and dead seriously takes a guess.*

Clark: "It's your pocket knife."

Jonathan: "You could see through my hand."

Clark: "No, you always keep your knife in that pocket."

*In a moment of reconciliation for the earlier reveal, both Kent men share a moment of amusment as things start getting a bit normal again.*


*Later back at the rest home, Clark makes one final visit to Cassandra.*

Cassandra: "The other night, you left in a hurry. Closer... I, uh, I hoped you would come back."

*Clark sits with the old lady.*

Clark: "Sorry. You saw that... whatever it was."

Cassandra: "I always see them. The question is, how did you?"

Clark: "I don't know, wasn't I suppose to?"

Cassandra: "Nobody ever has."

Clark: "Why me?"

Cassandra: "Because, we both know... you're not like other people."

Clark: "Sure I am."

Cassandra: "No, I've seen you. Before we ever met, more than once I've touched people and I've seen such pain and despair and... but then you were there and... the pain was gone! I think that's your destiny, Clark, to help people, to save them from fear and darkness."

Clark: "How?"

Cassandra: "Well, that's for you to figure out. You can fear the future or you can embrace it. The choice is yours."

*Cassandra offers her hand as Clark takes in a brave embrace, allowing the two of them to see many people in dire need of his help within the coming future.*

Clark: "Who are they!?"

Cassandra: "People who need your help."

Clark: "How am I supposed to help them if I don't know who they are?"

Cassandra: "I'm not a radio, I don't pick up continuous transmissions... that's all I have."

Clark: "I'll figure it out."

Cassandra: "Clark, your secret's safe with me."

*Clark shares a smile as he leaves in a balance of peace.*


*Walking home through Smallville, Clark has another experience with X-Ray Vision as he at last figures out how to master it, subsequently being found by his mother.*

Martha: "Did it happen again?"

*Clark simply nods in a moment of clarity.*

Martha: "Let--Let's go home."

Clark: "No, I'm okay."


*Later on that night, Jonathan catches back up with Clark in the loft.*

Jonathan: "Your Grandfather gave me that telescope when I was, was about your age. I came downstairs for breakfast one morning and... there it was."

*The two Kents can only have one more exchange in coming to peace.*

Jonathan: "Are you okay?"

Clark: "...Answer that in about five years?"

Jonathan: "Yeah."

*Just then as Jonathan heads off, Clark surprises him.*

Clark: "Dad! I'm glad you and Mom were the ones that found me."

Jonathan: "We didn't find you, Clark. You found us!"

*The Kents simply smile as Jonathan heads back in.*


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 2 ~ "Who My Parents Are"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*Seemingly asleep on the Kent home's downstairs couch a year later, Clark wakes up to the noises of various electronics in the house and the loud barks of the family dog, coming upon the front door where a massive light from the night sky appears to engulf him.*


*Clark finds himself soaring into the daylight sky clouds, passing by a jet and making it to the upper stratosphere as without any hesitation, he flies back down to Earth and arrives at a massive ice palace as if taking up some kind of mantle.*


*Clark wakes up in the middle of the night on a desolate road in Smallville, as though he'd floated there during his sleep, nearly being hit by a passing car as the familiar driver gets out and seems surprised at who he's almost hit... again.*

Lex: "Clark...?"


LOGO: "Who My Parents Are"


*The following morning at the Kent farm, Clark feels the need to make a lie to his father as he finds him loading the truck with hay bales.*

Jonathan: "Well, you're up early."

Clark: "Don't worry, Dad, I woke up in my own bed this morning."

Jonathan: "No dreams?"

Clark: "Nah, I think whatever it is passed."

Jonathan: "That's good. Yeah, I'm taking your mother into town for a check-up, you want a ride to school?"

Clark: "No, Chloe's gonna pick me up."

Jonathan: "Great."

*As Martha heads out to the truck, Clark experiences a huge headache without warning and experiences Heat Vision for the first time, the incredible flames being unleashed upon the Kent barn.*

Martha: "Jonathan!"

*Clark and Jonathan work together to put the fire out.*

Jonathan: "I'll get it, I'll get it, go on!"

*As the fire's starting to go down, Chloe's car starts to come up.*

Jonathan: "Clark, what happened!?"

Clark: "I don't know!"

Chloe: "What happened?"

Martha: "We came out and it was... on fire..."

*The Kents and Chloe all see a bizarre symbol burned upon the barn as Chloe takes a picture for the school press.*


*Out in the fields of the farm, Clark plants a scarecrow post with Jonathan by his side.*

Jonathan: "Alright, rule #1, always practice away from the barn. Come on."

Clark: "Dad, I don't get it, I thought the whole point was to stop this from happening."

Jonathan: "Well, in order to find the off-switch, we need to find the on-switch, right? Alright, now I want you to remember exactly what you were thinking about the first time it happened."

*As Clark's trying, he finds some trouble with his Dad present.*

Jonathan: "Come on."

Clark: "Dad, this might be easier if I was...?"

Jonathan: "Alone. Yeah, sorry!"

Clark: "Thanks."

*Jonathan heads off to give his boy some privacy.*

Clark:"...Lana...!"

*Just then, Clark masters Heat Vision, much to his and Jonathan's enjoyment.*


*The next day as Clark walks through the Kent home, he hears a knock from someone with mail.*

Yancy: "Clark Kent? I have a package for you."

*Clark sees a message from Dr. Virgil Swann.*


*At the Kent home, the family discusses what awaits him.*

Martha: "Clark, we don't know anything about this Dr. Swann."

Jonathan: "For all we know, the whole thing could be an elaborate plan just to get to you."

Clark: "Now you're just being paranoid! Did you ever think for a second that maybe he just wanted to help?"

Jonathan: "No, Clark, I haven't! When it comes to protecting you and your secret, all I've ever seen are people who wanna exploit you for their own personal gain."

Clark: "You can't protect me forever!"

Jonathan: "I'm not ready to give that up yet!"

Martha: "Clark... We're not trying to keep you from learning about your past, we just don't wanna see you get hurt either."

Clark: "I have got all these questions and I can't leave them in the storm cellar anymore. Why'd my parents put me in that ship, what was so bad they had to send me away!? I have to do this."

Jonathan: "Then let's go together, we'll go as a family."

Clark: "Dad, I have to go alone, it's the only way. No matter what I find out, it is not gonna change the way I feel about you. You're still gonna be my Mom and Dad."


*After the family have shared a warm embrace, Clark heads off to New York.*

Clark: "Hello? Hello, Dr. Swann? What am I doing here...?"

Swann: "Looking for answers, I assume. Hello, Clark, I've been expecting you. You're probably wondering why a billionaire scientist works in the back room of a planetarium."

Clark: "Thought had crossed my mind."

Swann: "Well, I find it peaceful. Besides, I own the building. Activate screen...!"

*A screen of alien writings appear and as if possibly recognizing it, Clark is drawn to it.*

Swann: "Does any of that look familiar?"

Clark: "What is it?"

Swann: "It's a message from the stars, Clark. All my life, I've been staring out into space wondering... wondering is anybody else out there and then 13 years ago I got an answer."

Clark: "Day of the meteor shower."

Swann: "One of my receiving stations picked up a faint signal, took me years to decrypt it... and finally, I discovered a mathematical key, that was built into the transmission."

Clark: "Can you read it?"

Swann: "Yes. It says 'This is Kal-El of Krypton. Our infant son, our last hope. Please protect him and deliver him from evil'."

Clark: "Kal-El? Krypton?"

Swann: "I've always wondered what happened to that child. Did he survive the journey, if he lived among us? And then three days ago, I saw the symbol for 'Hope' burned onto the side of a barn in Smallville and I found out that the farmer and his wife... had an adopted son."

Clark: "So you think I'm Kal-El...? I'm just Clark Kent."

Swann: "No, no no no, I'm not trying to expose you, Clark... I'm just, I'm just seeking the truth."

Clark: "Sorry, Doctor. Truth is I'm not who you think I am."

Swann: "If you can live with that decision, so can I. But... if you walk out that door, it'll never be open to you again. And you'll never know the second part of the message..."

Clark: "Tell me something, Doctor, why are you doing this to me?"

Swann: "We all have our windmills, Clark. I need to know I'm right...! Once I do, it'll never leave this room."

*With a nod from Swann, Clark accepts.*

Clark: "Show me."

Swann: "Second screen."

Clark: "'We will be with you, Kal-El, for all the days of your life'. What does this mean?"

Swann: "Well, I'm not sure, but... one thing I've learned about science is the value of patience."

*Clark sees a point of origin on Swann's star map.*

Clark: "Is that where Krypton is?"

Swann: "No, that's where Krypton was. I followed the signal's path billions of miles out into space, I was hoping to discover its origin, but instead... I found nothing."

Clark: "Planets don't just disappear... What do you think happened to it?"

Swann: "Oh, could be any one of a million different scenarios. War, famine, disease... I mean, look at the world around us, is it really that hard to believe?"

Clark: "Well, I can't be the only one, there must be others like me!"

Swann: "There was only one message."

Clark: "...Why me? There must be a reason why I was sent to this planet!"

Swann: "You won't find the answers by looking to the stars, it's a journey you'll have to take by looking inside yourself. You must write your own destiny, Kal-El."


*Later that evening after Clark's returned home, he meets with his mother in the Kent barn.*

Clark: "Don't worry, Mom, my secret's still safe."

Martha: "Well... I'll be in the house if you, uh, wanna talk."

Clark: "Lara. That was my biological mother's real name."

Martha: "How did you know that?"

Clark: "She was putting me in the ship... I just can't believe that I forgot about her."

Martha: "You didn't, Clark. Your first word was Lara. Your father and I could never figure out what it meant... now we know."

Clark: "I wish she could've met you, see what a great Mom I have."

Martha: "She knows, Clark. A mother's love never dies."


*In aftermath to the mother and son's embrace, we go to the next day as Clark is out present shopping for Martha.*

Nate: "You sure about this?"

Robber: "Just follow the plan, Nathan, nobody'll even know you're there."

*As the robber grabs a hidden gun, Nate shares a nervous look as ear-plugs are prepared.*

Robber: "You smash, I grab, it's done. Do your thing, kid."

Jeweler: "Last time Martha was in, she made a point of trying these on."

Clark: "Did she try anything on that didn't have four numbers in the price?"

Jeweler: "Well, I just got in some nice costume design pieces from a local designer. Quite unique, straight from outer space."

*Clark is visibly shaken off by what's clear to us a small shard of Kryptonite.*

Clark: "Thanks, but I'll keep looking."

*Suddenly Nate begins to trigger his meta-human screeching ability much to the chagrin of everyone in the store as the Robber rushes in, shooting at the glass containing the meteor shard as Clark sees it flying in front of him, using Heat Vision to shoot at his gun as he accidentally hits the fragment and it reflects into his eyes.*

Jeweler: "Not another step!"

*Being frozen in fear by the owner's shotgun, Nate bails as the Robber is caught swiftly, though in sacrifice to Clark's eyesight, Lana rushing in from hearing of the robbery.*

Jeweler: "Don't you move, the police are on their way."

Lana: "Clark, are you alright?"

Clark: "Lana? Lana, it's my eyes, I can't see...!"


*In recovering from the damage he received, Clark struggles with his improving vision as he's no longer blinded, yet clearly seeing blurs galore.*

Jonathan: "Any more improvement?"

Clark: "Just a little, but everything's still a blur, at least I won't be walking through any walls."

Martha: "Well, what about your other abilities?"

Clark: "Well, I can't just sit here."

Jonathan: "Okay, but before we do anything else, there's one stop we have to make."


*Following a trip down to the vision specialist, the Kents exit an office with prescription Glasses on a certain Kent, at least for now.*

Martha: "Clark, come on out... Sweetie, they look fine."

Clark: "Yeah?"

Martha: "Yes."

Jonathan: "Yeah."


*Later on at a small coffee shop, Clark hangs with best friend Pete Ross as his eyes take some adjusting to the specs, some obvious improvement coming along.*

Pete: "What's the matter?"

Clark: "My eyes are just adjusting, I think I need a new prescription."

*Just then, a saddened Chloe walks in much to her friends wondering of what's going on.*

Chloe: "Hey."

Pete: "Hey, Chloe! Hey, I'm ready for my big Torch interview."

Chloe: "I'm sorry, Pete, I'm gonna have to reschedule. I'm really glad you're feeling better."

Pete: "Chloe, what's the matter?"

Chloe: "My Dad just got laid off from his job at LuthorCorp this morning."

Clark: "That doesn't make any sense, your father's worked there for years."

Chloe: "If you want answers, ask Lex, he's the one who dropped the axe."


*Upon taking a trip, Clark personally visits Lex at his mansion as other than their brief interlude on Route 8, they reunite for the first time since the bridge accident with Kent now wearing Glasses.*

Lex: "Clark, I heard about your miraculous recovery."

Clark: "I just found out that you fired Chloe's father today."

Lex: "Yeah, well, uh... apparently his performance was seriously lacking."

Clark: "Chloe's father has worked for the company for years, this could ruin her family."

Lex: "Clark..."

Clark: "No, this isn't right--"

Lex: "--It's not about being right, it's about positioning. My father won a battle today."

Clark: "And Chloe's father is a casualty!"

Lex: "True, but the war's just starting... and I have the greatest advantage. He thinks I'm weak."


*Later that night as Clark's vision has at last fully improved, Martha consults him about his inability to help Chloe.*

Martha: "Sweetheart, you just have to do the best you can, uh--... You can't save everybody. Well, I'll take some of these out to your Dad."

Clark: "I'll do it."

Martha: "Well, could you please make sure that at least a couple of them make it to the barn?"

Clark: "Yes. Thanks, Mom."

*Leaving his specs behind, Clark takes some cookies out to Jonathan in the barn as he hears some noise within.*

Clark: "Dad!?"

*Clark sees a troubling sight as some unattended equipment is falling apart, turning the machine off to investigate, only to find his motionless father as he drops the treat he brought him.*

Clark: "Dad... Dad! Dad?"

Jonathan: "...Not now! Not yet... I love you, son..."

*As Jonathan passes out, Clark can only hold him in true shock.*

Clark: "Dad...? Mom! Mom! Mom!"


*As some time passes into a day at Smallville Medical Center, we see the Kent family at Jonathan's bedside as he prepares for surgery in aftermath to his heart attack, his blood pressure being taken as Clark arrives.*

Clark: "How's Dad doin'?"

Jonathan: "Feel like I'm being prepped for a Thanksgiving dinner and I'm the turkey."

Clark: "You'll have a good scar to brag about. Dad, I want you to know..."

Jonathan: "I do know, Clark."

*The two hold hands in a bonding moment.*

Jonathan: "And I love you, too. Now, go on."


*As Clark leaves, Martha stays behind to be with Jonathan a bit longer as their son goes outside for some air.*

Lana: "Clark! I thought you and your Mom could use some moral support... and a little sustenance."

Clark: "Thanks, Lana, my Mom hasn't eaten all day. I'm sure she'll appreciate it, um, I'll be back soon."

Lana: "Is everything alright?"


*Clark doesn't quite answer as we go back in on the Kent parents continuing discussion regarding their son.*

Martha: "They'll be here any minute."

Jonathan: "Martha, you and I both know that there's a chance that things could go south in there."

Martha: "Don't say that, please..."

Jonathan: "Now there's no doubt in my mind that you and Clark can take... good care of each other, but you have to remember our promise. When he's ready, you have to let him go."

Martha: "When that day comes... you'll be standing right beside me..."

*As the two share a kiss, they hear a knock.*

Doc: "We're ready."


*Some point later as Jonathan's going under the knife, Clark visits the Metropolis U football field to become inspired in once more seeking out his Freshman dream, walking off into the sunset wishing for a better future that he himself can create.*


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 3 -- "Graduation & Beyond"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*18 Months later during Senior Year, Clark Kent is heading off into a big game a football star, having one final discussion with his recovered father about it and putting the subject to rest.*

Announcer: "Greetings football fans and welcome to the championship game! Between the Topeka Valley Huskies and your Smallville Crows!"

*As Clark heads off into the game after getting dressed, he's suddenly stopped.*

Coach: "Alright, let's go! Get on the field! That's it...!"

Jonathan: "Clark! A bunch of 250 pound guys bangin' into each other on a football field is one thing. But gettin' hit by you's like gettin' run over by a freight train. It's a big difference, son. Well, I'm sorry, son, thinking is not good enough."

Clark: "Dad, I know you don't agree with me, but sometimes taking responsibility means having faith in yourself to make the hard choices."

Jonathan: "And it also means being willing to accept the consequences."

Clark: "Every handshake, every hug, every time I'm out on that field, I make a conscious decision to fall when those guys hit me so they don't get hurt. No matter how hard you try, you can't understand that. That's why it's my decision, not yours."

Jonathan: "You're startin' to sound more and more like your father."

Clark: "I hope so, Dad."

*Clark runs off to have fun as Jonathan can't help but smiling for him.*

Announcer: "Now taking the field, your Smallville Crows! Today's Crows captains are Seniors Cameron Jiff, Jay Crozer, Austin Pond... and Clark Kent! The Crows are undefeated in 13 contests this season, they are led by third-year coach--!"


LOGO: "Graduation & Beyond"


*Some time later, we rejoin Clark after that brief career on his very last day of high school as he prepares for graduation.*

Lana: "What do ya' think?"

Clark: "I think it's finally starting to hit me, it's really over, isn't it? You know, I remember walking through those doors the first day of Freshman year..."

Lana: "Actually, I think you tripped."

Clark: "Well, I couldn't help it, you made me nervous."

Lana: "It was cute. Who knew you'd turn into this big high school football star?"

Clark: "Former football star. I just got used to seeing you every morning at the lockers, but I guess that's all gonna change now that you're going off to college."

Lana: "Well, I don't know if I'm gonna go."

Clark: "Really? I mean... What do ya' mean, you're the one who's always dreamt of leaving this town, ever since you were a little girl."

Lana: "I know. It's just, right now it feels like I've been making that decision because it's what everyone expects us to do. If I go, I wanna make that choice for the right reasons."

Clark: "So you're staying in Smallville?"

Lana: "I don't know, I think it would be really hard with all of you guys gone."

Clark: "Well, not all of us will be gone... I'm thinking of commuting to Central Kansas."

Lana: "Then maybe I won't have to spend any more time trying to figure out how to say goodbye."


*Some time later, we join Clark at his high school graduation outside of the school as he and friend Chloe Sullivan head up to get their diplomas.*

Announcer: "Darren Cooper. Caroline Dreats. Cody Davis. Laura Feldman."

Clark: "Have you seen Lana yet?"

Chloe: "Still no sign, I'm starting to get worried, Lana's never so much as had a tardy, she's not gonna miss her high school graduation."

Clark: "She'll be here."

Announcer: "Max Fromm. Michael Hall. Holly Harold. Tanya Hart. Kate Horton. Michael Hoover. Hannah Jacobs. Michelle Jewel."

Martha: "Oh, there's Clark!"

Announcer: "Clark Kent!"

*Clark proudly gets his diploma while being cheered on.*

Announcer: "Lana Lang! Have you seen her? Lana Lang!"


*Meanwhile unknown to all as the graduation continues, Lana is actually dropping her high school sweetheart Whitney off at a bus to join the Marines.*

Lana: "Do you have everything?"

Whitney: "You're only allowed one bag."

Lana: "I'd never make it as a Marine. I want you to have this for luck."

*Lana gives Whitney her Kryptonite necklace.*

Whitney: "I won't lose it this time. Goodbye, Lana..."

*As the two share a departing hug, Whitney exits the truck, only for Lana to abruptly go after him for one more embrace.*

Whitney: "I loved you the first moment that I saw you, I'll still love you when I see you again."


*As the couple share one final kiss, they part on separate paths, all the while at a graduation dance Clark hangs out with Pete Ross as he's enjoying the party with date Chloe.*

Clark: "Hey!"

Pete: "Hey, Chloe's havin' a great time!"

Clark: "I promised her a night she'd never forget."

Pete: "I'm glad you finally stepped up, Clark."

Clark: "Yeah, me too. Hey, I like these guys!"

Pete: "Yeah. Remy Zero!"

*As a different song plays, Clark and Pete get the hint.*

Chloe: "I love this song!"

Pete: "Hey, you know this is one of Chloe's favorite songs."

Clark: "Why do you think I requested it?"

Pete: "Now that's what I'm talkin' about!"

Clark: "May I have this dance?"

Chloe: "Of course."

*As the two dance the night away, a storm worsens around Lana until it causes her truck to crash, stranding her on the side of the road while triple twisters soar toward her direction.*


*Back at the dance, the festivities are disrupted by a sudden weather announcement.*

Announcer: "Can I have everyone's attention, please? Uh, thank you, the National Weather Service has just issued a tornado warning. Apparently, three funnels were spotted heading towards Smallville. Now, uh, please everyone stay calm, the twisters are gonna set down south of here, but for your own safety no one will be allowed to leave the gym."

Clark: "The bus station's south of town... Lana's there."

Chloe: "Clark, don't worry about it, I'm sure she's home by now. You know what, I'll go call her on my cell and you wait here."

*As Chloe nearly heads off, Clark speeds off to do what he must do while she's left confused.*

Chloe: "Clark? Clark!?"


*As the storm rages on around the small town, back within the outskirts at the Luthor mansion, Lex Luthor's father intrudes upon him as he's trying to find something important.*

Lionel: "So, you're using your mother's stock to fund the buyout, that's your secret source. I must admit, it's a bold move Lex, but it won't work!"

Lex: "You braved the weather to tell me that?"

Lionel: "It's suicide, Lex! You may get the plant, but you’re putting your employees' homes on the line, forfeiting your own future!"

Lex: "Or forging a new destiny free from you."

Lionel: "You're not my enemy, you're my son."

Lex: "I never saw the distinction."

Lionel: "When Alexander the Great was dying, his generals asked who he would leave his empire to, if he would appoint a new successor who would keep the legacy intact! Prevent generations of bloodshed, his answer was simple; 'I leave it to the strongest'."

Lex: "I believe the term is 'Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war'!"

Lionel: "I'll bury you and everyone in Smallville who takes your side!"

*At that moment as the father and son Luthors have a brief physical altercation, the mansion's windows burst open as the entire foundation begins crumbling around them due to the storm, the roof even collapsing upon Lionel.*

Lionel: "No!"

*As Lex can only look on in estrangement with a deadly piece looming right over his father, Lionel looks his way in the most dire of positions as the Luthor mansion burns to the ground.*

Lionel: "Lex! Lex, Lex...! Help me, Lex! Lex! Can't move! Help me! Lex...! ...My son, please!"


*Back where Lana is stranded, the three twisters merge into a giant F5 aimed straight at her truck as her cell gives out, only for a super-speeding Clark to show up just in time to find her.*

Lana: "Clark!"

Clark: "Lana!"

Lana: "Clark!"

Clark: "No!"

*Clark super-speeds into the tornado without hesitation just as Lana's truck is lifted up into its eye, evidently being lifted up as well with his body soaring through the winds offscreenish with potential assist from the fierce winds, getting to the truck as he rips a door right off in front of Lana's eyes and crouches down to protect her until their crash.*


*Upon crashing to the ground, Lana is knocked out, but now confirmed Clark's secret as he makes it to her totally baffled by what just happened.*

Clark: "Lana? Lana...?"


*With the storm having settled down, Lex has gotten his father across town to the local hospital where Lionel seems to be coming around.*

Lionel: "...Lex... ...Lex..."

Lex: "Dad? Dad, how are you? The doctors won't tell me what's going on."

Lionel: "I know, I wanted to tell you myself. There's every chance I'm gonna get back the full use of my legs."

Lex: "Well, that's great news, isn't it?"

Lionel: "I need to say something to you. If I've acted ruthlessly, it was because I knew my opponents wouldn't hesitate to do the same, I know you've always se--seen us as opponents. Lex, when I needed help... you saved my life... and I thank you, son."


*Later on after what seems to have been a revealing talk in the Kent barn, we hear Clark's very true words to young Lana as they're coming down the loft stairs.*

Clark: "I'm from another planet, it's called Krypton, it's light years away. My parents sent me here to save me..."

*A recovered and well dressed Lana leaves Clark behind as they both seem happy and content with the secret, only for a startling surprise from the storm cellar.*

Jor-El: "Kal-El, it is time... Kal-El, it is time..."

*Clark approaches the storm cellar and enters its bright light as he comes upon his activating ship within.*

Jor-El: "Fear not, Kal-El."

Clark: "Who are you!?"

Jor-El: "I am Jor-El, your father."

Clark: "I-I thought you died?"

Jor-El: "I am his memory, his will. I am to fulfill his promise and guide you, for all the days of your life... You are the last son of Krypton. When you traveled through the cosmos, you carried the hopes and dreams of your people, they now live through you, Kal-El. It is time...!"

*Jor-El's AI-soul transforms the entire ship into what appears to be a representation of Earth in his own way of showing Clark's next step.*

Clark: "Time for what!?"

Jor-El: "Time to accept your destiny."

Clark: "I don't know what you have in mind for me, but I--"

Jor-El: "At the setting of the sun Sol, you will return to me, your destiny will be fulfilled."

*As Clark turns in an attempt to leave, he is stopped by a warm vision of Lana and his parents.*

Jor-El: "Your thoughts are not a mystery to me, Kal-El, but these people have served their purpose. It is time to leave them."

*As Clark tries touching the Lana vision's face, all of these visions shatter away as Clark shows a hint of fear on his face, turning back to his father in a brush of defiance.*

Clark: "Please! Everything and everyone I love is here, in Smallville!"

Jor-El: "You must let go of your past, I will guide you to your future."

*With that, Jor-El allows the ship to explode and be gone forever, but not without what's all left of it becoming Clark's 'S' mother-crystal.*


*The following morning, Clark is having an open conversation with his mother about where to head with his life now that high school is behind him, Lana knowing his secret, and having met his biological father outside in the farm fields.*

Clark: "I didn't feel alone, anymore."

Martha: "Clark--"

Clark: "Mom, I know how much you love me and how much Dad... But I've always felt... different, it's because I am. I don't think I really thought about what I lost, a family, a whole race of people who were just like me. For the first time, I'm ready to stop running... from who I really am."

*Clark opens his hand to reveal his 'S' mother-crystal.*

Clark: "From my destiny."

Martha: "You’re training with Jor-El, you wanna go."


*Later that day, Clark's worked up the courage with his mother to share this with Jonathan as well while the Kents are also preparing to go on a trip.*

Jonathan: "Alright, but I want you to listen to me right now. All the years that your mother and I spent raising you from a... wide-eyed toddler runnin' around on this farm to the man who is standing in front of me right now... was for this moment. You do this son, you make us proud."

*Clark warmly hugs both of his parents as they all worry for one another, yet with nothing left to do, he heads off into the sunset to begin his global travels on finding where his father's training will be.*


*With a map in hand, Clark abruptly sets off for his travels as he super-speeds south, arriving in a small market place of Honduras as he finds a small boy sharpening a rock carved in the shape of his 'S' mother-crystal.*

Clark: "Can I see that?"

*The boy hands his rock over to Clark as he examines it and notices the boy appears to be ill.*


*Investigating the southern wilderness with the boy, Clark is led to where the child saw something charred in the shape of his crest.*

Clark: "Senior fine?"

Boy: "Senior fine, si."

*Clark can only look astonished at the burned ground as he ponders where to go from here.*


*A montage of world travels begins as we continue with Clark on a super-speed run through the world toward Hub City for the right doctor to help the ill boy he met, truly continuing this journey as he arrives at an airport.*

Clark: "Excuse me! Have you seen Dr. Burton!?"

Worker: "Who?"

Clark: "This guy, right here."

Worker: "You just missed him, kid, right there."

*Clark super-speeds straight to the plane to stop it.*

Clark: "Wait! Wait!"

Pilot: "Who is that?"

*Clark goes to Burton as he exits the plane.*

Clark: "Dr. Burton!"

Burton: "What do you think you're doing!? Who are you!?"

Clark: "My name is Clark Kent, look my friend is really sick, would you take a look at these scans?"

*As authorities arrive, Clark tries getting Burton to check some papers out.*

Clark: "Doctor please, by the time you get back, it'll be too late!"

Cop: "Get your hands in the air now!"

Clark: "Doctor please!"

Cop: "I said hands in the air now!"

Burton: "Wait a second... Where's your friend now?"


*With an expression of relief, Clark's travels continue as he next arrives in a war-torn area of the globe where debris are falling all over as a town is trying to evacuate, a large piece of that attacking debris now threatening a small boy.*

Troop: "Oh my God..."

Citizen: "Come here!"

Dad: "Henry! Henry! Henry! Henry! Henry! Henry! Henry!"

*The boy finds a toy truck as he looks up into the sky to see a massive collision aimed straight for him, only for Clark Kent to super-speed just in time to save him from the impact.*

Boy: "You're not my Daddy."

Dad: "Henry, Henry! Henry...! Henry..."

Boy: "Daddy!"

*Clark simply hands the boy to his father.*

Clark:" Go...! Go!"

Dad: "Thank you! Thank you!"


*Clark super-speeds off and on to the location-filming of a major Hollywood movie where an actress named Rachel is performing her own car-stunt going wrong, the car crashing.*

Rachel: "Oh my God! Somebody, help!"

*Clark super-hears her screams as he taps into this power for the first time.*

Rachel: "Somebody, help me!"

*Super-speeding off as she crashes into a partial gate, Rachel's car flips over just as Clark makes it in the nick of time to catch her out of it, the car exploding and debris narrowly missing him as she comes to seeing his face.*

Rachel: "So you... just totally saved my life... You're amazing."


*With a smile on his face, Clark's further journey leads him to a rupturing dam that threatens a fishing family, though they have no idea what's coming.*

Boy: "Dad, how long are we staying here? There's no fish."

Dad: "This is the best fishing spot on Earth, they'll come, just toss your line between those rocks."

*As the dam gushes, it totally envelops a bridge holding cop cars, Clark super-hearing it within the woods as he rushes to the family and their barking dog.*

Boy: "Hey, boy? Dad...!"

Dad: "Run! Come on, son! Run!"

Boy: "Dad!"

*As they run, the father trips and hits his head on a rock, knocking him out as the boy tries waking him up.*

Boy: "Dad, Dad! Wake up, Dad! Dad! Wake up, Dad! Dad!"

*The massive wave rushing to the boy, he and his dog are the only witnesses to Clark super-speeding right in front of them and using his mastered Heat Vision to totally avert their coming deaths, saving them as he shares a super smile and heads off to do more good.*

Boy: "Whoa..."


*In the middle of this incredible journey, Kent comes across a young guy with red hair who can also super-speed and they have a race through the middle of America, only for Clark to be beaten once this kid with the 'Flash' logo taps into a certain speed force and leaves him astonished.*


*Elsewhere around the world, Clark's travels lead him toward needing to make his biggest save yet in seeing a nuclear rocket going off that will cause much damage if he can't stop it, super-speeding and performing a monumental leap as he makes it into orbit and disarms the rocket just in time for the explosion's shockwave to knock him back down to Earth... very badly injured.*


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 4 ~ "My Next Journey"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*2 Years later, we find wandering American troops being led by one Whitney Fordman.*

Soldier: "This is pointless, Fordman! They think we're dead."

Whitney: "We're gonna make it back home, you hear me? I'm gonna get back to see..."

Soldier: "Lana? I know. If I have to hear about Lana or Smallville, or horseback riding in the freakin' meadow one more time--!"

*Just then, the troops are attacked by an ambush.*

Whitney: "Move it! Move it! Keep moving!"

Soldier: "We're not gonna make it!"

Whitney: "I got one flare left! We just gotta make it to that ridge, the scouts'll see it from there!"

*Whitney's partner is hit bad.*

Whitney: "You all right!? Oh my goodness! You're okay, you're okay! Come on, get up...! Come on, now, come on keep moving come on... You're okay, bud."

Soldier: "I don't wanna die, I don't wanna--!"

Whitney" "No one's gonna die, I promise!"

*Just then, Whitney and his partner are bombed all to hell with no help coming.*


*Meanwhile elsewhere in the world, a mostly powerless Clark Kent is still recovering from the injuries sustained upon his orbital fall, stranded in the black market streets of Verkhoyansk, Russia as rain pours all over and Kent works hard to no end.*

Russian: "You! Johnny Appleseed, no coffee break!"

Clark: "Let me make a phone call!"

Russian: "I told you, when you pay me back."

Clark: "I'll get you your money, I can get you whatever you want if you let me make the call! I need to let people know that I'm okay."

Russian: "Why don't you send them message by carrier pigeon?"

*As the Russian heads off, Clark sees a truck being left on as the driver exits, getting a crazy idea as he rushes in it attempting to escape only for the workers' guns to cause him to crash as he gets assaulted.*

Russian: "You try that again, Johnny Appleseed, I'll be not so nice."

*The Russian simply kicks Clark out while holding his gun.*


LOGO: "My Next Journey"


*After allowing him to remain passed out for a while until later on in the day, the Russians wake Kent up with a bucket of water.*

Russian: "How are you feeling, Johnny?"

Clark: "Uh, never better."

Russian: "Ready to get back to work?"

*Clark moves back to working, only to surprise the Russian with a striking 2x4, trying to steal another Russian's gun only for his escape attempts to yet again fail.*

Russian: "You are very determined, aren't you?"

Clark: "I just wanna go home."

Russian: "Okay. Just tell us where to ship your body."


*Only rather than be killed right there, Clark is shipped off to an underground fight club elsewhere in the world where one Lois Lane is deeply undercover investigating illegal fights to certain death, young Kent's powers very gradually returning until he's forced into a major other-worldly brawl.*

Tech guy: "We're online in three, two, one!"

Maddox: "Yeah, fight fans! Are you ready!? Tonight's undercard is a special co-ed match-up, introducing two new combatants! In this corner, the voluptuous... the vicious... Vixen!"

*Lois Lane enters the caged sorta-ring in much disgust.*

Maddox: "Yummy. And now, entering our arena for the very first time...! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome... the all-powerful... the all-American... Man of Steel!

*Clark enters cleaned up and dressed to fight, not happy with what he's being forced to do."

Maddox: "I can't wait...! Ladies. Good luck, pretty boy."

*Maddox exits as Clark and Lois come face to face.*

*Lois takes a shot to Clark's gut having no idea who he is, only to hurt her fist as his powers come all the more back.*

Lois: "That isn't just a six-pack under your shirt, that's a steel kegger!"

*As Lois nurses her hand, Clark discreetly uses bits of Heat Vision to take out the show's cameras and other equipment, infuriating a fighter deeper within the club to come find him.*

Doomsday: "Kal-El!"

*A beast of a man enters upon sensing Clark's abilities, somehow knowing his name and seemingly drawn to fighting him.*

Maddox: "Woah! Wait, wait! The live feed went down."

*Maddox is whacked all to hell by the beast and killed.*

Worker: "Show's over!"

Clark: "Run!"

*Just then, Clark is surprised by a massive punch from this beast, being knocked clear across the arena.*

Ashley: "What the hell's going on here?"

Worker: "He's tearing up the place, he just killed Maddox!"

Ashley: "Who!?"

Worker: "Titan!"

*Lois attempts to slow down the beast, only to be knocked down much to Clark's anger as this animal approaches her.*

Clark: "Leave her alone!"

Doomsday: "This human means nothing to me, you're the fight I've been hoping for."

Clark: "You don't belong here."

Doomsday: "You're the one that doesn't belong!"

*With nothing more to say, these two major forces clash as Clark's powers have fully returned to him, fighting out a fierce five minute battle of all battles as Kal-El gets in some trouble.*

Doomsday: "Time to die, Kryptonian."

*Doomsday attempts one final punch, only for Kent to fight back at his best.*

Clark: "...My turn..."

*Kent pulls out all the stops in venting two years of being treated like a slave, until one final punch wedges this beast's bone-claw into his chest and seemingly kills him, but not until he says one more thing before passing out.*

Doomsday: "Good fight...!"

*Clark checks on Lois, making sure this stranger is alright before he leaves a free man.*


*Upon exiting a packed place as he wanders through some city streets after fully recovering, Clark is struck with a pain from his chest that leads him to a phone booth, ripping open his shirt to discover a burning '8'/'S' crest in the first contact Jor-El's made with him since the ship, the emblem slowly fading away as he's inspired to make a phone call home.*

Martha: "Hello?"

*Martha can only hear her boy's troubled breaths over the phone as he's trying to figure out where to go from here.*

Martha: "Clark, is that you...? Please come home."

*Clark can only hang the phone up in a moment of sorrow as he wishes to see his parents face to face, but not before tracking something down he senses is out there causing havoc.*


*At the docks in Seattle, Washington, Clark arrives to find an area of decimation.*

Cop: "Are all the bodies accounted for?"

Coroner: "Kinda hard to tell. I'll keep ya' posted."

*Clark overhears the two and follows the coroner into a medical tent.*

Coroner: "You must be the first year med student I've been waiting for. Don't flatline on me now."

Clark: "What gave me away?"

Coroner: "The queasy stare that afflicts all newbies their first day on the job. You mind?"

*Clark begins to give her a hand with work.*

Clark: "How many are there?"

Coroner: "A whole graveyard's worth."

*She pulls out a small bag of bloody stuffage.*

Clark: "How does a body end up in one of those?"

Coroner: "They have no skeletons, although I don't know how that's anatomically possible."

Clark: "You mean someone cut their bones out?"

Coroner: "More like ripped them out, clean flays everyone of them. I've seen some stuff that would make most people run for the hills, but this... this is seriously freaky."

Clark: "All these bodies, they're from the ship?"

Coroner: "These last two, they were dock workers. Whatever was on that ship's on dry land now."

*Clark steals a badge and makes his exit from the tent.*

Coroner: "Kid, you pukin' already?"


*Later on in the day, Clark makes it over to the crime scene.*

Officer: "Let's keep the area clear, please. Hey, this area's off limits."

Clark: "Um, I'm with the coroner's office."

Official: "Better you than me. I heard the bodies are pretty messed up, anyway our theory is the perp was hiding out in this container, somehow busted out of this thing and started his killing spree. It's wild. We thought it was blood, but the guys are sayin' it's human bone marrow, it's frickin disgusting. Actually, there are a few more remains that need removal, the forensic team's over there waitin' for you."

Clark: "Thanks."

Officer: "Sure."

*Meanwhile somewhere else on the docks, an officer finds bone marrow on the ground and follows it, only to be ambushed by a certain evolving beast, but all the while Clark continues searching for it as he finds a bloodied pair of safety glasses and a hat.*

Worker: "Help!"

*With that, Clark super-speeds off to the dying scream, rushing and super-jumping through a cherry-picker only to find he's lost this animal's tracks, but we viewers can see it's the Titan-shaped beast now totally transformed into the full-fledged monster that is Doomsday.*


*Some time later as Clark's travels come to a head, he tracks the rampaging beast down to the city of Metropolis, being his first visit to this trembling city as Doomsday hurls a car at Kent and he catches to put it back down while seeing this thing's rage upon innocent citizens.*

Citizen: "Help!"

*Doomsday knocks a girl's mother through a window as he holds the child in his arms, only for Clark to super-speed run up and save her, rushing her to the safety of the street corner.*

Clark: "It's okay..."

*Clark is caught off guard much to the girl's fear and cries as Doomsday separates his shoulder and delivers a few massive hits, now more powerful than ever as his last blow sends Kal-El through several buildings while quickly following him with a massive super-leap, one punch away from ending Clark Kent's life only for all of the hero's focus to be put into a spontaneous flight across the big city as Doomsday is buried alive.*


*The following morning at Kent farm, Jonathan and Martha are on the phone trying to figure something out.*

Jonathan: "Look, if I had any idea what happened I wouldn't have to call the police, now would I? Listen what I want you to do is I want you to get a hold of Sheriff Adams and send her over there be--"

*Much to the shock of both Kents, Clark enters the house a charred mess with his clothes tattered from his final showdown with Doomsday.*

Jonathan: "I have to call you back..."

Martha: "...Clark... Oh, Clark..."

*Martha hugs her son as Jonathan comes up to him and both express their relief at seeing their son alive.*

Jonathan: "Son... They told us you were dead."

Clark: "...Ye--..."

*Jonathan can only hug his son in such relief he's alright after not seeing him for so long.*

Clark: "...It's the only way I could come back..."

Jonathan: "We heard about a... missile malfunction. You stopped it, didn't you?"

*Clark simply nods.*

Jonathan: "It's not easy to sacrifice the thing that you want the most to save other people. We're so proud of you, Clark."

Clark: "The real sacrifice would've been not coming back at all."

*Just then, a knock is heard from the door as a teary Lana makes her way in.*

Lana: "Mr. and Mrs. Kent...?"

*As Lana sees Clark, the emotions at presuming his death and hearing of her own high school boyfriend's loss get to her.*

Lana: "...Clark...!"

*All she can do is simply embrace young Kent with a big hug and kiss, opening up the door for a possible relationship.*


*As a bit of time passes, at a bar across town in Smallville, a most drunken journalist drinks his time away.*

Perry: "Do you believe that there are powers greater than we can know somewhere in the universe?"

Bartender: "Sure. Look, you mind if I switch back to the game?"

Perry: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for the Metropolis Sharks! To Littleville, Kansas... and all the little Kansassians in it! One more."

Bartender: "Look, pal, we don't want any trouble here I think you might've had enough."

Perry: "If you want trouble, you just try cuttin' me off!"

*Perry's thrown out.*

Barfly: "Don't come back!"

Perry: "Small town friendly my butt."


*As Clark's super-speeding through Smallville with a backpack considering to leave again, Perry drives on through town quite drunk and mindless of his surroundings.*

Perry: "No-Yea-No I'll I'll I'll I'll find it... Yeah, I know this--... Yeah, uh! No, no I have not been drinking. Thank you for caring."

*Just then as Clark's running, he takes a break from super-speeding to think about things, only for Perry's car to nearly smash the hell out of him and instead go for a phone pole to cause electric wires to drop, prompting Clark to rip his door off and save him as they super-speed to safety.*

Clark: "You okay?"

Perry: "You pulled the door right off the car with your bare hands!? You walked right through the power lines!"

Clark: "You're a little drunk, Mr...?"

Perry: "White! Perry White...!"


*The next day, Clark comes up to Jonathan in the fields to talk and give some help with chores.*

Clark: "Hey, Dad."

Jonathan: "Hey, hey Clark, I wasn't expecting you till later. Where's Mr. White?"

Clark: "He left. I think he realized that Smallville wasn't quite as friendly as he first thought."

Jonathan: "Well, I'm glad you're here, I've been trying to wrestle thing up on a block for about an hour, ya' wanna give me a hand?"

Clark: "Sure!"

*Clark grips the tractor and, perhaps by accident, sends it flying across town as his super-strength grows, the wreckage landing right next to a departing Perry who can only pour his whiskey away in bafflement.*


*A few days later while Clark is getting ready to go back into the house following some chores, he checks a delivered package from one of the many people he saved during his travels, this one from the stunt-gone-wrong actress as he opens her present to read a note.*

'To my hero, Rachel'

*Clark fully uncovers the package to find a red cape that he embraces in his arms, but not really knowing what to do with it, he simply leaves it on the front lawn's fence as he heads back in preparing to go out for supper with his mother.*


*Later that night as Clark and Martha get back home after dinner, they find a bewildered Jonathan walking almost like a zombie.*

Martha: "What's your Dad doing out here, what?"

Clark: "Dad?"

*As the two exit the car, Jonathan suddenly collapses.*

Martha: "Jonathan? Wha-Wha Jonathan!"

Clark: "Dad? Dad!"

Martha: "Jonathan!"

Jonathan: "...Clark..."

Clark: "Dad?"

Martha: "Jonathan--"

Clark: "Set him down over here, come on, come on... here, just sit down."

*Jonathan can't sit as he simply embraces his family, looking at both his wife and son with so much love in his eyes, physically unable to say anything as he passes out in their arms and dies.*

Martha: "No! No, Jonathan!"

Clark: "Dad!"

Martha: "Oh, God! Jonathan!"

Clark: "Dad!"

Martha: "Jonathan!"

Clark: "Dad...?"

Martha: "No! Oh please not yet, no Jonathan pleas-no! Jonathan!"


*A couple days later on a snowy morning, Clark and Martha prepare for the hardest ceremony of their lives, burying Jonathan.*

Martha: "I guess it's time, then."

Clark: "...I'm sorry..."

Martha: "...Come here... With me, sit down... Clark, I know you're blaming yourself, but this was not your fault. Clark, a heart beats only so many times in a life. Your father used his more than anyone I know."

Clark: "I just don't know how I'm supposed to be the man he wanted me to be... without him here."

Martha: "You're his son. You know what's right and wrong, rather your father's here with us or not. You're a man he's proud of... a man he could look up to... and something tells me he won't be the only one."

*Clark simply holds her hand as he takes notice of his mother's pearl necklace.*

Clark: "Can I help you with this?"

*As Clark helps Martha, she can't help but break down, bringing the two to a warm hug for comfort.*

Clark: "I love you, Mom."

Martha: "...I love you, too..."

*At the cold funeral, the Kents' family and friends all unite as Lana reunites with Clark in a hand-holding embrace, even Lex Luthor oddly observing from afar as the coffin is lowered and Clark sprinkles the first dirt on it.*


*Without warning following the funeral, we find ourselves in the middle of a very bizarre 1940s-esque dream set at the Daily Planet's bullpin of all places.*

Chloe: "Sleepin' on the job, what's the big idea?"

Jimmy: "Uh, why I don't--I mean..."

Chloe: "I don't. I can't. What's gotten into you, Jimmy Olsen? The whole town is talkin' with the Senator's visit and you're on the first train to dream-land. Now I didn't take a job slinging coffee for just anyone, I picked the best I tell ya', the best! The Daily Planet's never seen a reporter like you and I plan on keeping it that way."

*Just then, Chloe bumps into a somewhat nerdy Clark Kent, Glasses and all.*

Clark: "Jeez, oh jeez! I'm sorry. Miss. Sullivan, we haven't even met and already I've ruined your blouse. This is very-- I'm Clark Kent! K, Kent, I'm Clark Kent... Uh..."

Chloe: "Chloe Sullivan and it's quite alright."

*Clark just gestures his Glasses and heads on to his desk.*

Jimmy: "What's with the Glasses?"


*Suddenly, Clark awakens within his loft in a shock from this strange dream of all dreams, noticing a black packaged present next to him with a note inscribed from Martha.*

'If you choose to stay. Love, Mom'

*Clark opens the package that through a reflection in his eyes and upon his smiling reaction, we see it's the iconic Superman suit in all its glory, only for the hidden 'S' mother-crystal to give off an octagonal-shaped light as it transports both Kal-El and this uniform to the arctic...*


*...The 'S' mother-crystal now grown in size and placed within Clark's hand, he looks around to see a desolate glacier as his crystal floats in the air pointing toward a specific direction, prompting Kal-El of Krypton to chuck it across the tundra.*

*Burying itself within the arctic ice, the crystal builds a monumental ice-palace as Clark can only look in shock and enter more curious than ever, finding a console of crystals as one of them floats into the air for him to grab.*

Jor-El: "Kal-El, you have traveled far. One journey has ended, a new journey is about to begin. Welcome home, my son."


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 5 ~ "Finding a New Home"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*Within his Fortress of Solitude as we recall its formation, Kal-El engages in conversation with his biological father.*

Clark: "I thought Krypton was destroyed!"

Jor-El: "It was, but here in your Fortress of Solitude, the geography of our planet has been replicated for your training."

Clark: "I know there's a lot I can learn from you, but I have to get home, that's where I'm needed!"

Jor-El: "A dark force from Krypton has been awakened, Kal-El and its sights are set on Earth."

Clark: "What do you want me to do?"

*Just then, Clark is enveloped into the beginning sequence of Jor-El's Fortress Training.*

Jor-El: "You must do as I tell you, study with diligence, for that is the only way to save this planet."


LOGO: "Finding a New Home"


*It is the start to the year 2013 as a celebrating plane holds a banner of this declaration on high over the city of Metropolis, where we go to the Daily Planet outside the office of one Perry White.*

Lois: "If you remember, I'm the one who said 2012 would be just another Y2K scare and I was right! Not to fear, White, if there's a scandal in the Pentagon, yours truly will be the one to find it."

*Exiting out of Perry's office is the same spunky woman Clark briefly came across during his underground fighting, now a fully matured Lois Lane.*

Jeff: "Miss. Lane, seven calls from the State Department, confirmation on your flight to Jordan, fruit basket from the Dalai Lama... and Clark's at the deli, he wants to know if you want pastrami or roast beef?"

Lois: "Clark would forget his head if it wasn't attached with a necktie!"

Jeff: "Oh, there's something else..."

Lois: "Yes? ...Okay..."

*Lois opens the Daily Planet newspaper to read about Lex's President running announcement.*

Lois: "Luthor is making a play for the oval office and White has me playing dodgeball with arm-chair quarterbacks at the Pentagon!? I can't believe it...!"

*Just then, a returned Clark has super-speeded away from his desk, leaving a pair of Glasses as Lois looks in curiosity.*

Man: "News plane lost power! It's heading straight for the Daily Planet!"

Lois: "Olsen!? Olsen!? You had better be getting every pixel of this...!"

Man: "Look, up in the sky!"

*As we zoom up with the employees perspective, we see Superman catch the plane from crashing into the building's globe.*


*Rewinding five years earlier, Kal-El still trains within his Fortress unaware of this future that is ahead of him, the education of his true father in reflection of his eyes and Kryptonian letter-graph all around him during its climax.*

Clark: "Isn't it time to move beyond these mental trials?"

Jor-El: "Your determination is strong, my son. But just as your passion will be your greatest strength, so too will it be your greatest obstacle."

Clark: "You sent me here to fulfill a destiny... Tell me what you need from me."

Jor-El: "Kal-El, you do not need me to tell you what is standing in your way, you already know. And you know what you need to do."

Clark: "I have to say goodbye to her."


*Having left the Fortress and his finished training behind, we find Clark having returned to the Kent farm in Smallville, waiting for a most familiar visiting lady in the barn.*

Lana: "I've climbed these stairs so many times before, why do they seem steeper than ever?"

Clark: "Thanks for comin' by, I didn't wanna bother you at school. I need to be honest with you."

Lana: "That would be refreshing."

Clark: "...I don't know any other way to say it. But the truth is... my feelings for you have changed."

Lana: "Clark, I want you to look me in the eye and tell me that you don't love me."

Clark: "I don't love you."

Lana: "I have waited... for you to grow up, to get over whatever hang-ups you may have."

Clark: "I never meant to hurt you--"

Lana: "I don't want another Clark Kent apology. It's over... forever."

*With that, Lana leaves as Clark has finally let go of the one girl from his home town he ever truly had an eye for, now making one more quick stop in the Kent home before moving on.*


*Clark enters the living room to hear a very familiar voice coming from his mother's television.*

Jonathan: "Here, go that way, make a figure 8."

Martha: "Please be careful!"

Jonathan: "Don't worry sweetheart, it's gonna be fine!"

Martha: "--Always say!"

Jonathan: "That way?"

Martha: "Hold it tight!"

Jonathan: "What're you, kidding? This young man's a Man of Steel, look at him!"

*Clark sees a home-movie made when he was very young, riding a tractor with his father around the snow on a very similar morning to Jonathan's funeral.*

Jonathan: "Take one more turn--"

Martha: "Where are you going?"

Jonathan: "Thought I'd show our son the back 40, after all, it's all gonna be his one day right!? Clark, wave bye to Mommy, son..."

*Martha turns around to see her son having returned from his training and tears welling up in his eyes from his emotions.*

Jonathan: "Bye-bye...!"

*Seeing her boy wearing her husband's watch, Martha goes up to him holding his hand and hugs him so warmly, both crying in each other's embrace.*


*Somewhere clear across the world, a variety of bright lights shine above the Earth and come crashing down upon our planet, one of these which forms a strange purple glow as a naked man holding an orb can be seen emerged from this display with several voices chanting.*

Voices: "Aas... Zaaas... Zooos***s... Zod...! Zod!"

*With that impact, it's clear the dark force from Krypton warned by Jor-El at the start of Kal-El's training has arrived, meanwhile deep within the Fortress of Solitude rests the suit made by Martha.*


*The next day at the Daily Planet in Metropolis, a bowtie-wearing photographer is trying to zoom-in on various potential shots in practicing his camera, catching a look at one Lois Lane as he's surprised by one Clark Kent.*

Clark: "Nice bowtie."

Jimmy: "Oh, thanks, yeah it's umm it's a present from an old girlfriend. She might've taken my heart away, but she left me with a sense of style."

Clark: "You're Jimmy Olsen, the photographer, right?"

Jimmy: "The one and only."

Clark: "Every time I see a picture in the newspaper I like, your name's on it."

Jimmy: "Really? You like my work?"

Clark: "Yeah."

Jimmy: "I wish that you were my Editor, I mean she says that I have... focus issues!"

Clark: "She should check her eye-sight."

Jimmy: "So, do you work here?"

*With a smile and nod, Clark follows Jimmy on into the bullpin now a member of the Daily Planet, only to bump into one Lois Lane as she sports quite the smile of her own.*

Lois: "Clumsy, but... cute."

*Clark quickly adjusts Lois back up as they stand firm.*

Jimmy: "Hey, Miss. Lane, looking for an ace photographer to shoot tomorrow's Column 1?"

Lois: "Put your camera back in your pants, Olsen, I need you to make another delivery ASAP."

*Lois hands him a letter before turning her attention to the newbie.*

Lois: "Name's Lois, Lois Lane."

Clark: "Clark Kent."

Lois: "So, Kent, do you always bowl women over the first time you meet them? I'm gonna be at O'Malley's after work, find me and I'll buy you a cold one."


*Later that night at O'Malleys, Lois waits for Clark, whom watches from the distance with a somber look and chooses to send a text message instead of meeting up, his saying...*

'Sorry swamped with work, can't make it.'

*...While Lane's says.*

'Chasing a lead, couldn't make it anyway'


*The morning after their failed meeting for drinks, Clark is ready to start his first full day at the Daily Planet as he enters the bullpin with a huge breath to meet up with Lois.*

Lois: "Wow, big points for punctuality, Smallville. But... what's with the wardrobe malfunction?"

Clark: "What? This is a nice shirt."

Lois: "Human resources is gonna be down here any minute and you do not wanna meet them looking like Brawny Lumberjack. Hold on..."

*Lois moves over to another reporter's wardrobe.*

Reporter: "Hey! Personal space, Lane, remember?"

Lois: "GQ here needs some roadside assistance, let me borrow your spare. Come with me."

Clark: "Don't tell me I have to wear a tie--"

Lois: "--Always dress for success, no time for the men's room. Let's change in here."

*Lois rushes a nervous Clark toward an interior phone booth to change.*

Clark: "A phone booth is not exactly private."

Lois: "Burning daylight hours, Clark, change. Lucky for you, it's a slow news day and I was at my desk, otherwise you could've spent your entire career being nicknamed Farm Boy or Flannel Man."

Lady: "Hey, Lois."

Lois: "Trust me, the news game can be brutal, you do not want to bomb on your first day. Hi."

*Clark exits the booth with a totally changed wardrobe in impressing Lois.*

Clark: "So, how do I look?"

Lois: "Um... good."

*Just then there's a crashing explosion heard outside that rocks Lois into Clark's arms as debris fall from upstairs, Lois checking the bullpin while Clark super-speeds away.*

Lois: "So much for the slow news day... Clark?"


*Clark arrives on the scene of the accident, seeing a wrecked bus on the road and carefully rushes to it in front of other citizens, discreetly coming upon one of its side panels to rip it open.*

Woman: "Down here!"

*Ripping off part of the bus with some smoke covering his actions, Clark helps as many people out as he can.*

Man: "Go ahead!"

Clark: "Get away from the bus! Okay, come on."

Man: "Let's go!"

*After helping out what appeared to be the last citizen, Clark makes one last look inside just to be safe, spotting a badly injured woman he picks her up in his arms to move as the sirens arrive to help.*


*Some time later during a night shift at his Daily Planet desk, Clark listens over his radio transmitter for any crimes so he can begin seeding his dual-identity all over the city.*

Dispatcher: "Robbery in progress, squad 17 at 33 please respond."

*With that, Clark super-speeds off from his desk still keeping his bright red shirt on, running around Metropolis to do the most good he can as an armed robber hits a jeweler.*

Jeweler: "Please, don't hurt me."

*As the robber readies his weapon, Kal-El arrives just in time to knock him out, moving on to another wrong-doing in an alley.*

Bully 1: "What else ya' got?"

Boy: "That's all my money, I swear! Please!"

Bully 2: "I think he's lying."

*Just then as the kid raises his fists in a futile attempt at fighting back, Kal-El again gets there just in the nick of time to knock them down as the kid is left believing he did this, our hero moving on."

Dispatcher: "All cars to the Ace of Clubs, 12th and Maryland. Screams heard, no accounts from inside. I repeat, all cars--"

*Arriving at the Ace of Clubs, Clark uses his Super-Hearing to listen in on what's going on to examine the situation.*

Lady: "Help! Help!"

*With that, Kal-El makes a super-leap up to land on top of the building where he can provide some discreet help.*


*As Clark lends some help, he makes it to a troubled Lois Lane in danger of being murdered by an insane thug, grabbing him just in time and knocking him out as Lois turns around to glimpse a super-speeding man running away while in the streets of Metropolis, Jimmy Olsen gets robbed.*

Thug: "You're comin' with me."

Jimmy: "What!? No hey, man, just take my wallet!"

Thug: "I don't want your money. Come on! Go!"

*Just then from up above, Kal-El in a one-shot experimental suit sees the distress, now ready to give the city their first full glimpse of the hero that has been protecting them, using a weapon of sorts to shoot a rope across buildings with which to help him glide.*

*A red cape and yellow belt being donned, the mostly blue-clad Kal-El super-swoops down through the streets to take out Olsen's thug, making it to the other side of the street just above a glorious American flag.*

Jimmy: "...No way..."

*Along with Jimmy Olsen, several of the citizens of Metropolis look up in the sky and although they don't yet know his name, greatly enjoy their very first look at Kal-El of Krypton as his stand-in cape billows in the wind.*

Lady: "Wow! Oh, man."

Man: "Hey!"


*Though Clark has given up that proto-suit attempt, the following night in the streets of Metropolis walk Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen as the latter expects to meet up with him.*

Lois: "I write news stories, not fairy tales. Especially ones about mythical saviors that no one's ever seen."

Jimmy: "Look, I may not have a name or a face to connect him with, but I am telling you this stealth crime fighter is as real as it gets! Trust me, this is the kind of story that careers are made of..."

Lois: "Well, without a photo, that story is about as relevant as a five-part expose on the tooth fairy."

Jimmy: "I bet ya' Clark won't feel that way after I pitch him the story over dinner tonight."

Lois: "Woah, Clark is coming to dinner with us?"

Jimmy: "Yeah, I had a feeling you were too much of a cynic for such an uplifting piece, but hey! Ya' know, CK will be all over this."

Lois: "I wouldn't be so sure, as shocking as it may seem, Smallville is no hack."

Jimmy: "Wow... Wait a minute, did I just hear you give Clark Kent a compliment?"

*Just then, Jimmy is again assaulted by a thug as he knocks Olsen down before going on to Lois.*

Thug: "Give me the purse!"

Lois: "You're robbing the wrong chick!"

*Lois quickly kicks at the robber and tries fighting him off as Jimmy recovers.*

Lois: "Jimmy! Get a picture of his face!"

*As Lois delivers a knee, Clark arrives in time to see what's going on from afar, taking on the mantle of Kal-El in simply his street clothes as Lois is pushed in front of a speeding car and he runs over to save her, knocking out the thug as he catches her and allows Jimmy to snap a blurring picture of his face.*

Lois: "I knew I got a good lick in!"

Jimmy: "Oh my God...! It's him!"


*The following morning at the Daily Planet, Clark Kent arrives to work hearing of the hero gossip and reading the front page's headline regarding his alias.*

'Faster Than a Speeding Bullet'

Man: "Right there, that's where he is."

Woman: "I think that is..."

Lady: "...Do they even have a name?"

Jimmy: "Hey, Lois, by any chance did you take a peek at today's front page?"

Lois: "I certainly did, Jimmy Olsen! I have to say that I've underestimated you. As hard as it is to believe, I was saved now twice in two days, without a doubt I am officially a true believer in this red and blue super-dude."

Reporter 1: "Hey, Jimmy!"

Reporter 2: "Hey!"

Jimmy: "Oh, hey guys."

Reporter 1: "Good job."

Clark: "Word from above, the Mayor's gonna announce the new fire chief at 10 A.M."

Lois: "My days of covering yawner press conferences are all but over, 'cause I have a new mission in life."

Clark: "Didn't realize ya' had an old one."

Lois: "I'm gonna use my expert tracking skills and find this camera-shy superhero."

Clark: "Really? Good luck with that."

Lois: "Mark my words, Clark Kent, I won't stop until I land the first worldwide exclusive interview. Watch me...!"


*That same day elsewhere in a warehouse of the city, two soldier-looking troops meet up to discuss how they'd been involved in these failed robberies to draw out a certain hero.*

Zod: "...Coats. Three things cannot be long hidden, the sun, the moon, and the truth. That's from a sacred human text from a prophet they call Buddha."

Coats: "Major Zod--"

Zod: "No... And the truth is, you've become reckless, haven't you?"

*Coats has his dog-tag ripped off in an angry moment of the Major's.*

Zod: "Have you lost your foresight?"

Coats: "I did it all for our survival."

Zod: "Our cloak of anonymity is the only thing keeping our presence from this world."

Coats: "I found the secret to our abilities that were promised us, while you were rounding up our people, I discovered one of us right here in Metropolis... under our noses."

*Coats shares with Zod the House of El 'S' emblem.*

Zod: "Jor-El... He survived."

Coats: "Major, he didn't just survive. According to the news reports of miraculous saves around the city, he has the power from the yellow sun."

Zod: "And yet we have none? He has chosen to harness the powers for himself and left us defenseless."

Coats: "Jor-El betrayed us, I trust you see the risk was worth it."

Zod: "It takes a certain kind of man to step outside the boundaries of his station. Kneel..."

*As Coats kneels before Zod, he is subsequently executed for acting against his superior, the Major getting his first taste of what it's like to kill on this planet.*


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 6 ~ "An Alias at Work"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*In our first flashback, we go back 20 years on the planet Krypton to the war-ravaged outskirts of Kandor where several troops are lining up for a medical test of sorts.*

Medic: "Relax, it's just a pinprick."

Alia: "I never liked needles."

Faora: "Small price to pay for immortality."

Soldier: "Incoming! Get down!"

*As Alia moves on and one more Kandorian soldier goes on after her, Major Zod suddenly arrives.*

Zod: "Medic, there's a civil war raging and you're wasting time! The forces of Black Zero are closing in on Kandor and I can assure you they'll wait for no one!"

Medic: "You're the last of your battalion whose blood I need, Major Zod!"

Zod: "Get on with it... There's a war to be won and we wanna get back to our families. Right, soldiers!?"

Soldiers: "For Rao and Kandor!"

*Just then, the medic is stopped from his actions by a familiar presence, Clark's Kryptonian father in his somewhat younger days.*

Zod: "Jor-El! I'm guessing you're not here to cheer on the troops!"

Jor-El: "Call it a mission of redemption, I'll need all those blood samples, I can't let this project go on."

Medic: "My orders come from the Ruling Council itself, you have no authority here."

Zod: "Medic...! When the most renowned scientist in Krypton tells you to stop it, you stop."

*As Zod and Jor-El share a moment of friendly agreement, the war goes on.*

Zod: "If the Ruling Council wants my blood, let them find it on the battlefield!"

Soldiers: "Yeah!"

Zod: "Let Black Zero feel the bite of your weapons and the bravery in your hearts, soldiers move out!"

Soldiers: "For Rao and Kandor!"

Alia: "Let's go!"

Jor-El: "Thank you, Zod!"

Zod: "You realize the Council won't like this, do you know what you're doing?"

Jor-El: "Oh, the Council can do what it will, but I'll not let my life's work be used to commit an atrocity."

*Just then, all of the Kandorians hear a silence of nothingness upon their city, Jor-El and Zod climbing up the trench to witness the destruction of Kandor.*

Jor-El: "...Kandor..."

Zod: "My wife, my son!"

*Jor-El saves Zod from the shockwave as they fall back down.*

Jor-El: "Zod, there's nothing you can do! Kandor is gone!"

*Zod's anguish only sinks him as the war closes in on its end.*


*In the present, Zod is just now finishing a recount of these events to his troops.*

Zod: "None of you recall that tragic day, because the moment your blood was taken was the last moment you remember of Kandor... But I can assure you I have not forgotten. Each one of you, the last sons and daughters of Krypton are all that is left from our beloved homeland and I will not allow for your birthright to be denied! When we find this traitor, we will force him to give us what's rightfully ours, we will be gods on this planet and Kandor will rise again!"


LOGO: "An Alias at Work"


*Meanwhile at the Daily Planet, Clark Kent is sneaking Lois Lane into a back-room in hopes of improving his human disguise a bit and perhaps their relationship *

Clark: "Your eyes still closed?"

Lois: "This isn't what I had in mind when you said you wanted to meet in the copy room, but hey, I'm open."

Clark: "You said I had a secret, you were right."

Lois: "I was dangling 100 stories above the pavement, I think I get a free pass on that one."

*Lois turns around to see just what this secret is.*

Lois: "Let's see what you've got."

*Clark turns around to reveal a most interesting addition to his human side, a pair of Glasses.*

Clark: "I'm a bit nearsighted, I've been trying not to wear them."

Lois: "They're very..."

*Lois tries them on, wowed by the prescription power.*

Lois: "...Clark Kent. I guess you're not the only one who's a little short-sighted, it's just sometimes I feel like I see a whole other side of you than anyone else."

Clark: "Lois?"

Lois: "It's okay, it's my hero complex to resolve, I take the nicest guy that I know and I weigh him down with shining armor. And it's not fair, nobody can be two different people."

*Lois puts the specs back in the front pocket of Clark's shirt.*

Clark: "I wish I could. Is this your long-winded way of saying that you hate these?"

Lois: "Personally, I don't mind the bump in your geek factor, but professionally there are these newfangled things you can try... they're called contacts."

Clark: "It means a lot that you thought I had it in me."

Lois: "Don't worry, Smallville, I'll only call you 'Four Eyes' every once in a while."

*As Lois turns to walk out, she stops herself to turn around for a surprise.*

Lois: "But just so you're clear on one thing..."

*She then kicks a box toward Clark, walking up on it to plant a huge first kiss.*


*Following his impassioned words to his troops, Zod silently sits outside by the streets of Metropolis simply thinking where to go from here and what he has left behind.*


*In our second flashback as Zod recalls his past, we go to the war's immediate aftermath where Jor-El is on trial for his rebel actions, facing down the Ruling Council itself.*

Elder 1: "Jor-El, you stand before the Ruling Council charged with treason."

Jor-El: "The technology I created was intended to heal those afflicted by wars and disease... not to resurrect the dead through cloning!"

Female-Elder: "The Orb will ensure that Krypton's strongest will endure if our planet is ever destroyed."

Jor-El: "But if we send the Orb to Earth and it is opened, the clones inside will develop extraordinary abilities under their yellow sun, the humans will be powerless against them. We cannot doom another planet's future to preserve our past."

Female-Elder: "Perhaps you should have had more faith in your own race. You leave us no choice... The punishment for treason is death."

*Without warning, Zod intrudes on the trial.*

Zod: "Council!"

Elder 1: "Major Zod! Your presence is an honor, but this is a closed trial."

Zod: "Well, I demand to be heard!"

*The Elder nods as Zod is surprisingly allowed to continue.*

Zod: "I may have driven Black Zero back into the ice, decimating its ranks, but my accomplishments pale in comparison to this man's! Jor-El... is the truest hero I have ever known. He has dedicated his life's work not to death or war... but to creation. When Kandor fell, many of our brightest and most promising citizens perished, in an instant... Krypton lost mothers, fathers, daughters... Sons...! What good will come if you extinguish another life unnecessarily? I implore you all! Let Jor-El live."

Female-Elder: "Your passion is noted, Major."

*The Council briefly debate Jor-El's fate.*

Elder 1: "It is agreed. Jor-El, the Council will spare your life, but you are ordered to complete the Orb. You must include Major Zod's DNA and your own. If that fateful day of judgment ever comes to Krypton, our survivors on Earth will be led by two of our planet's greatest heroes!"

*As the trial ends and the Council take their leave, Jor-El quickly steps down to shake arms with Zod.*

Jor-El: "I, Zod, I'm in your debt."

Zod: "Never forget that, my friend."


*Back in the present, the son of Jor-El is coming to a very important decision one night as he changes from his Clark Kent half to the other side of his dual-identity within a Daily Planet phone booth, heading off into the streets of Metropolis for a most interesting first talk.*


*On the streets of Metropolis, Lois is following directions from a note to another phone booth.*

Lois: "When am I gonna learn that a wild goose chase for a story usually ends with a rotten egg?"

*Just then as she's about to walk away, Lois hears a call from the phone booth, coming to it and picking up for her very first conversation with the Man of Steel.*

Lois: "Hello?"

Kal-El: "Is this Lois Lane, the reporter?"

Lois: "Who wants to know?"

Kal-El: "This is the Red-Blue Blur..."

Lois: "Yeah right, how do I know you're not some deep-throat wannabe with a lot of time on his creepy hands?"

*Without warning, a newspaper is super-speeded straight to her feet.*

Kal-El: "Look down. I received your letter, Miss. Lane."

Lois: "Call me Lois, if you want and while we're at it, do you wanna weigh in on the whole Red-Blue Blur thing? Because it's kind of a mouth-full on this end."

Kal-El: "I think there's probably a better name out there... and if there's anyone who can find it, it's you, Miss. Lane."

Lois: "I'll put my best man on it. And by man I mean me, because I work in a basement and employ pretty much no one, unless you count my intern! I'm sorry, I'm rambling."

Kal-El: "You're nervous."

Lois: "Can you read my mind? Who am I kidding, it's Saturday night and I hightailed it down here because I have one obsession right now and it's you and when you didn't respond to my sky writing, I just--"

Kal-El: "That was a nice one, by the way."

Lois: "Between you and me, I could use a little work on that subtle thing."

Kal-El: "You know there's nothing wrong with taking your job seriously."

Lois: "There is when you don't know who you'd be without it."

Kal-El: "Something tells me you know yourself better than you think. Lois, you're a great reporter, all on your own. You don't need a hero or some gimmick to make a headline."

Lois: "Thanks. My editor would kill me, but I don't want this story, what I've really been wondering is... what is it that you need? I mean, you've dedicated your life to a city full of strangers and I'm not saying that I know what it's like to be a hero, but... even the fastest blur in the world can't outrun loneliness. I guess what I'm saying is if you ever wanna talk, totally off the record, I'm only a phone call away."

Kal-El: "I'll keep that in mind. And Lois, when I'm ready to tell the world my secret, you'll be the first to know."

*With that, the conversation comes to an end as each hangs up and leaves the night behind surprisingly content, happy even as Kal-El looks off to the city of Metropolis with hope.*


*The following day at the Fortress of Solitude, Clark finally returns to Jor-El wishing to find out more about the dark threat he was warned of from Krypton just before his training started.*

Jor-El: "Hello, my son."

Clark: "I had no other choice but to come here!"

Jor-El: "I know you are still angered, I am your father! Pain is part of life, Kal-El, but you cannot let it blind you."


*In our third and final flashback to Krypton, Jor-El recounts to his son how he prepared the Orb with all of the Kandorian DNA collected, but also secretly bestowing the effects of Blue Kryptonite upon it on the day of Zod's descent.*

Zod: "Kneel!"

Jor-El: "The Council's demands have been met, the Orb is ready and so are these... the Stones of Knowledge. The teachings of the 28 galaxies will be available to our people if ever they should be resurrected. All that is left is for you and I to include our DNA."

Zod: "Which is why you will understand why I need you to do this for me."

*Zod takes Jor-El into private and reveals a lock of hair.*

Zod: "My wife gave me this before I went off to battle, so I could always keep my most precious treasure close to my heart... It's all I have left of my son."

Jor-El: "Be careful, Zod, they will see you."

*They go a bit further from the security.*

Zod: "My friend...! Um-I... beg of you... Use these fragile cells to bring my little boy back, so I can hold him in my arms again."

Jor-El: "But it is not an exact science, there can be complications, mutations--"

Zod: "--No, no, no, no D-D-Don't give me excuses, this is my son...! You could bring him back to me!"

Jor-El: "But we cannot change the past."

Zod: "After everything I've done for you... How dare you deny me this request...!?"

Jor-El: "We do not have the right--"

Zod: "--Think of how you'd feel if you had a son! ...Please..."

Jor-El: "I am truly sorry."

*With that, Jor-El walks straight back to his work as if turning his back on his best friend, much to Zod's pure anger as he comes up to him for the last test.*

Zod: "You are as dead to me as my son."


*Back within the Fortress stands a baffled Kal-El at the story being told.*

Jor-El: "Zod was imprisoned in the Phantom Zone for crimes that led to the destruction of our planet."

Clark: "Zod killed you."

Jor-El: "And your mother... and our entire race, just as he will do on Earth."

Clark: "I won't let that happen!"


*Back at the Daily Planet, Lois tries tracking down her nerdy partner and potential love interest, one Clark Kent.*

Lois: "I'm sorry I was late for breakfast, Smallville, but you would not believe the morning I just had! On my way to interviewing Nobel-prize winning tech guru Michael Holt, my taxi ran out of gas. So I got out like a good soldier and I pushed... then a bus ran through a mud puddle, not that I don't mind a good mud bath, but I prefer mine without clothes. So by the time I got to Met U, I was interviewing the clean-up crew about how to get the stains out of this jacket...! Clark?"

*Much to Lois' surprise, rather than Clark turning around to get the coffee she just prepared, another reporter similar in looks also with Glasses nabs it from her.*

Reporter: "Thanks, Lane."

Lois: "What could possibly be more important than a morning date with the great Lois Lane?"


*Unknown to Lois, Clark is back at the Kent farm pondering just what exactly to do about the Kryptonian rogue his biological father has warned him is out there, only to notice the spirit of his adoptive father out in the fields working on a fence.*

Clark: "...Dad?"

Jonathan: "Chores, Clark! Work keeps a man honest, gotta protect the things ya' worked hard to build."

Clark: "Are you real?"

*Jonathan simply looks at Clark just as he did the moment he'd passed away.*

Clark: "I've missed you."

Jonathan: "I never stopped watching out for you, Clark."

Clark: "Then you must be disappointed, I--... I haven't grown into the man you raised me to be."

Jonathan: "No, ya' haven't... you are so much more than that! And I'm so proud of ya', Clark."

Clark: "That's one dad."

Jonathan: "Since when did you start listening to Jor-El, hmm?"

Clark: "He's right."

Jonathan: "Give me a hand!"

Clark: "I know now that I have it within me to kill. I failed!"

Jonathan: "We're all confronted with trials, son. But the true measure of a man is how he chooses to react in the face of those trials."

Clark: "You never had that problem."

Jonathan: "Come on, son, I am so far away from perfect. I could never keep my own anger in check, I let it all build up inside me till it made my own heart give out. We can't make excuses for the dark stains on our hearts, son."

Clark: "I don't even know how I got to this place."

Jonathan: "We all make sacrifices, son and every time we do, we lose a little something in the process. You've sacrificed more than anybody, it'd be easy to let resentment build up inside, but it's gotta come out somewhere!"

Clark: "I feel like every time I do something right, I do something wrong! Sometimes I think it would be easier if you were here..."

Jonathan: "Not a day goes by, Clark, when I don't regret not being able to be right here for you. I would do anything, I would give anything to be able to get a second chance to get it right. You got that second chance, son... You could be the greatest hero the world has ever known."

Clark: "Not according to Jor-El..."

Jonathan: "Well, then do what you do best, prove him wrong!"

*With a nod from his son, Jonathan feels content with where this talk has taken Clark, kissing him before saying one more thing.*

Jonathan: "Jor-El was right about one thing, something dark is coming! You're gonna be tested. It's not gonna be easy, son, but I have faith in you."

Clark: "What's coming, Dad?"

*Much to Clark's further surprise, his father's spirit vanishes, leaving him with more questions than answers about Zod's plans.*


*Later that night in Metropolis as the Metro lev-train soars over Metropolis with Lois Lane inside, the train gets struck by a powerful beam carrying one of Zod's soldiers to attack Miss. Lane, leading to the two ladies into a brutal fight as the lev-train derails down to the Metropolis streets.*

*Just before the train can impact as Lois is briefly knocked out, Kal-El of Krypton returns to his duties of protecting Metropolis by catching the train and noticing Lois inside, now wearing his training suit in an upgrade to his alias as he super-speeds off just before she can see his face.*

Woman: "Oh, my God!"

*While Lois exits the train's ruins, Heat Vision can be heard being unleashed on the wall behind her to display a charred 'S' emblem for her and all the citizens to see as the Man of Steel reveals his symbol, Kal-El watching over the city of Metropolis from up high deeply worried for her.*


*Later that night, Lois makes it still hurt from her earlier fight to the phone booth she had her first talk with the Hero of Metropolis at, very hopeful he'll call as she picks the phone up.*

Lois: "Hello!? No, no, no... Maybe you're not calling, because you're here. Hello? Look, I'm sorry I'm late! I promise you can trust me...! Please, I know you're out there somewhere. Where are you...?"


*Suddenly, one final assault from Zod in attempt to draw out this 'S'-bearing hero causes the Daily Planet globe to explode as Kal-El can hear it from patrolling atop the Statue of Liberty in New York, attempting a flight to Metropolis only to land hard on the ground in failure.*

*As the globe continues to fall, the Man of Steel super-speeds through the country straight to Metropolis as he leaps from a taxi and freezes in mid-air upon catching the giant globe, then soaring it back up for a brief flight as the city's hero allows its citizens another clear look at him.*


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 7 ~ "Man of Steel?"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*Moving ahead one month later, we join Clark Kent very well suited up with his pair of Glasses on as he attends a multi-assorted press event, walking by one for the President as he takes his specs off to Super-Hear in on another being held by the Kryptonian he's been tracking down.*


Tess: "Thank you all for coming today! For years, I've tried to steer LuthorCorp towards more environmentally-conscious projects, I just had to prove that going green also meant going up on the stock exchange. Because thanks to the cutting-edge technology we've acquired through our new partnership with RAO Incorporated, I believe this project will put LuthorCorp on top, Metropolis on the map and our planet back on course."

*The pleasant sounding lady shows a fancy hologram of the planned RAO twin towers with a glimpse of the Red Sun above it.*

Tess: "I give you the world's first completely self-sustaining solar tower, this one tower will generate enough clean energy to power all of Metropolis."

*Just then, a familiar Major walks up dressed very formally.*

Zod: "Bravo, Tess, congratulations on an exceptionally well-realized effort."

Tess: "Mister... Zod? I never expected to see you here."

Zod: "Oh, interesting, seeing as I am now chairman and CEO of RAO."

*Tess seems slightly taken aback by that news as the crowd claps in unison.*


*Following hearing of this meeting, Clark finds himself back at his Kent farm thinking to himself atop a windmill in the fields, taking yet another attempt at full-fledged flight in his thirst to become a better hero to stop Zod, only to fail as he falls crashing through the Kent barn to his own anger.*


LOGO: "Man of Steel?"


*Out in the fields of Smallville near his farm, Kal-El at last puts his Fortress Training behind him by making a grave for his biological father, emblazoning a headstone with the family 'S' emblem in bidding farewell to Jor-El his own way.*

Clark: "I'm sorry... I can't give you what you wanted."

*All the while, the menacing figure of Major Zod watches Kal-El from afar, now knowing whom he truly is.*

Clark: "I can't save Zod. You might remember him as a friend, but I know what he becomes."


*Later that night, Lois Lane meets a new reporter at the Daily Planet as Clark is out, offering her a handshake with quite a pleasant smile.*

John: "I'm John Corben. See you in the trenches."

Lois: "Okay"

*As he heads off, Lois gets a sudden phone call from a certain hero.*

Lois: "Hello?"

Kal-El: "Lois..."

Lois: "Thank you for saving me up there, I was afraid you disappeared for good."

Kal-El: "I should have, I'm suppose to... but I can't. Promise me this is just between us?"

Lois: "I promise."


*Out on the streets later that night, John Corben drops something in the street and leaves the sidewalk to pick it up, only to get ran totally over by a truck as he passes out and gradually awakens to find himself in a small shack reborn with a cybernetic body.*

John: "Hello? Hello?"

*Corben slowly manages to get up as he bares through the confusion and pain, taking off a large bandage around his left arm to reveal complex mechanics, eventually finding a mirror as he rips off the massive bandage around his chest to reveal a very green Kryptonite heart.*


*The following day, Kal-El again patrols atop the city of Metropolis within the Training suit he's now made the look of the super hero side of his life.*

Citizen 1: "Hush, little baby, don't say a word. Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird and if that mockingbird don't--"

Citizen 2: "Don't forget to zip up your jackets, kids."

Citizen 3: "You got a letter from your son, Mrs. O'Brien."

Citizen 3: "I've been waiting for that."

Citizen 4: "Zoe, will you marry me?"

Citizen 5: "If you promise to love me forever."

Dispatcher: "Ventura-1-9, 211 in progress."

*Kent speeds off to provide a great deal of help as his alias.*


*Elsewhere within a Metropolis warehouse, several innocent citizens are tied up next to a mask-wearing bomber, helicopters and police preparing to invade outside.*

Cop: "Alright, people, let's set up a perimeter and someone get me a damn sight-line! We don't know how many hostages are inside… You, get me a barricade, last thing we need is anyone getting in our way."

*Suddenly in the background, Kal-El super-speeds atop the warehouse roof.*

Cop: "Let's go, let's move it!"

*Back within the warehouse, Kal-El super-speeds all of the citizens out and burns his emblem right in front of what's clearly an emissary of Toyman, deciding to come forward for this psycho.*

Kal-El: "Don't bother pulling the trigger."

*Super-speeding straight to him, the Man of Steel rips the bomb off the thug's chest and slaps him aside, only for a timer within the mask to go off as the bomb explodes within Kal-El's chest and sets off a massive shockwave he's mostly able to contain that catches him off guard.*


*Meanwhile at Metropolis Gen., a suffering John Corben is being rushed into ER.*

John: "Oh, God, it hurts oh get it out, please."

Dr. Hamilton: "Okay, cooler heads, people. Let's get a trauma panel, UA, type and cross for four. More film on his chest and arms! I'm Dr. Hamilton and you are?"

John: "I'm in a nightmare, look at me...!"

*The doctor uncovers the blanket to see his Kryptonite heart.*

Dr. Hamilton: "Alright, who did this to you?"

John: "I don't know I don't know, I uh... I got hit by a truck and when I woke up, this--this was in me. What is it, what is all this?"

Dr. Hamilton: "My initial assessment, someone has surgically implanted a bionic matrix in you."

John: "--Ah Jesus--"

Dr. Hamilton: "It appears to be powered by a fragment of meteor rock."

John: "So you can, you can take it out of me, right?"

Dr. Hamilton: "I'm afraid not... They removed your heart."

John: "No! No, no..."

Dr. Hamilton: "This apparatus is the only thing keeping you alive."

John: "I gotta--I gotta go!"

Dr. Hamilton: "His EPI levels are spiking! I need a sedative, now!"

John: "No! No sedatives! No, no, no! Get off me!"

*Corben violently shoves a medic far from him and as the doctor tries hitting him with a shot, he's also shoved away, the cyborg hurrying off before he can be stopped as we see him wander Metropolis' streets with the mechanic toes of his inner endoskeleton poking through his feet.*

John: "Your favorite freak's been at it again and this time the story's mine."

Lois: "Well, then he's done a super job cleaning up Metropolis."

John: "What if he screws up?"

Lois: "Thanks to him, the city can sleep at night."

Dr. Hamilton: "This apparatus is the only thing keeping you alive."

John: "No, no!"

*Corben suddenly finds the picture of his sister still clinging in the gutters of the street where he dropped it as he bends down to pick it up.*

John: "There's another side to the Blur and I'm gonna expose it."

John: "Becca..."

*Corben makes it to an underground basement at his apartment building where he keeps a newspaper montage of the Man of Steel's shadowy saves under the Red-Blue Blur/Blur monikers.*

Metallo: "I don't know, I don't know how this happened... Becca and I don't know who did it... but I know why. It's a gift, it's a gift. I thought I just wanted to 'unmask'... the Blur, but now I know what I've wanted to do all along is... is kill him. And now I can do it with my own two hands."


*Back at the Daily Planet, Miss. Lane gets yet another call from a certain super hero.*

Lois: "Daily Planet, Lois Lane, your first choice in reporting."

Kal-El: "Lois... I need some information."

Lois: "It's you."

Kal-El: "Something just happened at Metropolis General in the ER."

Lois: "Oh, yeah I know all about it, I'm covering the story. Got any leads?"

Kal-El: "Not yet. I don't know the man's identity, but I do have his keys and I think he works at the Daily Planet."

Lois: "He works here? Hey, do you want me to find out who's missing their keys?"

Kal-El: "No, I... I just wondered if you noticed anyone who's--"

Lois: "I am so on it!"

Kal-El: "No, Lois, listen to me! This man is dangerous. He's some sort of superhuman cyborg and I don't want you to get hurt."

Lois: "You really do care about me, don't you?"

Kal-El: "Lois, uh--"

Lois: "--Okay okay, I'll just keep my eyes open, I swear. But if I do see anything, it's not like I can call you from the bullpin."

Kal-El: "Then I'll call you at our phone booth."

Lois: "You think of it as our phone booth too?"

Kal-El: "Just be there at 7."

*As he hangs up, Lois gets right on her own investigation.*

Lois: "Hey, I need to get into the archive room, but forgetful Lois forgot her keys. Can I borrow yours?"

Reporter 1: "Make sure you return them, Lane."

Lois: "I just remembered where I stashed mine... Hi, I'm doing a special interest piece, they say you can tell a lot about a person from their keys. May I?"

*The next reporter also manages to show Lois his keys.*

Lois: "Is that a foot?"

Reporter 2: "For luck."

Lois: "Superstitious and disgusting."


*Elsewhere into the big city, Clark Kent's investigation into John Corben takes him to a place called Kord Industries, giving him a valid chance to further develop his 'Metropolis Clark' persona further, Glasses and all.*

Ted: "We can't replace what's been lost, Sonia, just send out the entire field team. We're not leaving Metropolis until we find it."

Clark: "Excuse me, Mr. Kord?"

Ted: "Who are you?"

Clark: "Clark Kent, Daily--Daily Planet."

Ted: "Press? Listen, I already told you, I'm only giving statements, no interviews. How'd you get through security? Securit--!"

Clark: "As one of the nation's leading industrialists, I know how busy you must be, Mr. Kord, which means this thing must be real important if you came all the way from Chicago to lead up the lost and found."

Ted: "No comment."

Clark: "Sir, how important is this weapon? How dangerous is it?"

Ted: "Who said we were looking for a weapon? What's your name again?"

Clark: "Kent, Clar--Clark--Clark Kent, I'm sorry! I work for the Daily Planet, well, we... we already went over that. Um, I'm-I'm a reporter, but I'm--I'm not a front-page reporter, though. I sit next to someone who told me that you used to work for the government and uh... Is there a restroom I could use here? I had a milkshake on the way in and it..."

Ted: "I trust you'll go out the same way you came in."

Clark: "Thank you."

*Kent appears to walk off only to discreetly super-speed away some documents in order to learn more about Corben's bionic matrix, getting away to the streets of Metropolis where he notices a banner for someone dubbed Booster Gold being replaced for one of his alias, officially being nicknamed the Man of Steel by Lois Lane.*

Clark: "Lois..."


*Back at the Daily Planet bullpin, Lois decides to take a break from her investigating and goes back to her desk to find John Corben sitting in Clark's desk.*

Lois: "Well, it looks like the night shift finally clocked in. What happened, tried to shave in your sleep?"

Metallo: "Why do the electronic records in this place only go back a year?"

Lois: "Hello. Lois. Banter, banter, banter. What happened, did your snappy patter set with the sun?"

Metallo: "Where are the records!?"

Lois: "Little less snap and a little more patter, please."

*Corben simply gives her a very serious expression.*

Lois: "Okay, it's a new system, they haven't transferred it all over yet. There's a hard-copy of everything in the archive room. What are you looking for?"

Metallo: "The Blur. He didn't come out of nowhere, Lois, there must be some kind of origin story."

Lois: "Maintenance crew's already been through there, don't forget your keys."

Metallo: "I need to borrow yours."

Lois: "You don't have your keys?"

Metallo: "I must have lost mine."

*With a full resolve on who’s the cyborg her Man of Steel is tracking down, Lois gives her keys to Corben in stride.*

Lois: "Keep them, I'll get them in the morning, it's late. I should go."


*Lois runs off to her signature phone booth in the streets of Metropolis.*

Lois: "Please call, please call, please call!"

*The phone subsequently rings for Miss. Lane to answer as Kal-El watches over the city atop his Crow's Nest.*

Lois: "Hello? It's me... Look, I know who he is, the man from the hospital? His name is John Corben."

Kal-El: "Lois, I asked you not to--"

Lois: "Please be careful! Corben has a supersized grudge against you and if he's as powerful as you say he is..."

Kal-El: "I'll be fine. Just promise me that you're headed home and not back to the office? Lois? Lois!? ...Lois?"

*Hearing her struggles as Metallo finds her, Kal-El super-speeds off to find her already kidnapped and the phone Lois held laced with bits of Kryptonite.*

Kal-El: "...Corben..."


*Back at John's apartment, the now fully demented Metallo holds Lois in captivity within his underground basement lair.*

Lois: "Look, I know you're new to the Planet, John, but I'm pretty sure HR frowns on this kind of thing."

Metallo: "I heard you... Lois, I heard you talking to him, so just tell me who the Blur is... and I'll let you go. I promise, I'll let you go."

Lois: "I already told you, I don't know! Since when did you become a living Lite-Brite? What happened to you, John, huh?"

Metallo: "I'll show you."

*Metallo then rips his shirt open to totally reveal his green Kryptonite heart.*

Lois: "Okay, take it easy there, Chippendale. I... I think I want the shirt back on."

Metallo: "Who is he? Lois, who is he?"

Lois: "I don't know."

Metallo: "Who is he!?"

*As Corben screams in her face, Lois gets hold of a wrench and tries smacking him with it, only for him to hit her back as she's knocked down and out.*

*As Metallo breaths hard at the adrenaline of his morally declining actions, Kal-El of Krypton super-speeds to the scene just in time to meet one of his greatest enemies.*

Kal-El: "Get away from her!"

*Metallo turns around to see the 'S'-donning Hero of Metropolis in all his glory, the Kryptonite in his heart slowing Kal-El down some.*

Metallo: "It's you... The 'Blur'...!"

Kal-El: "I don't wanna hurt you, John."

Metallo: "You already have, my sister's dead because of you. A prison bus... crashed, the men inside would have died, but you saved them all and in the confusion, a cold-blooded killer escaped."

Kal-El: "And he murdered your sister?"

Metallo: "What... gives you the right!? To interfere with our lives!? And to change our fates!?"

Kal-El: "I'm sorry about your loss, John, what happened to your sister was tragic... But you need to control yourself, the meteor rock is causing an adrenaline rush, you're not thinking straight!"

Metallo: "Control myself? That's easy for you to say, it doesn't take much to stay in control when you watch from the shadows. You stand apart from the world... while the rest of us live in it. Even when it breaks your heart."

*Secretly behind himself, Kal-El activates a Kryptonian technological device, getting ready to use it to stop the Kryptonite-donning mad cyborg as he approaches him, throwing it to the other side of the room as it activates an EMP pulse that knocks Metallo out and allows the Man of Steel to check on his girl.*

Kal-El: "Lois..."

*Just then, Metallo rises back up with his Kryptonite glowing stronger than ever, ready to get back in the fight as Kal-El feels weakened, throwing him across the room.*

Metallo: "Now, I'm gonna show you what it feels like to lose somebody you love."

Kal-El: "Lead. John!"

*Turning back around before he can so much as touch Lois, Metallo sees Kal-El Heat Vision a big chunk of lead he just picked up, then super-speed tackling it straight to his chest in making it to the side of the room Lois is on.*

Metallo: "What's the matter... Blur? Little meteor rock got you down? Who knew the mighty 'Goliath' could be taken down with a simple stone?"

Kal-El: "John, no!"

*As Metallo rips the plate off his chest, he fails to understand his Kryptonite heart is stuck to it as it rips right out of his chest, depowering him as his body shuts down and allowing the Man of Steel to again check on Miss. Lane.*

Kal-El: "You're safe now, Lois, I'm here."

*Lois starts to come around as she hears her hero's voice, who then super-speeds off a bit as her eyes are opening, only for her to look across the room to see her Man of Steel for the first time.*

Lois: "It's you... You saved me. After all our phone calls, I finally have you standing right in front of me and I don't know what to say to you. Please let me see your face."

*As Kal-El considers it in stepping into the light a bit more, giving Lois a more clear look than he's given the general public a couple times prior, he chooses to continue keeping his face concealed from her as he super-speeds off much to her sorrow.*


*The next day at the Daily Planet, Clark Kent finds Lois Lane blooming at her desk after her wild adventure with his heroic alias, adjusting things on his desk as they both settle back into the bullpin at work.*

Clark: "Anything exciting happen while I was gone?"

Lois: "Well, you'll never believe it, but I helped the Blur stop a homicidal maniac."

Clark: "Really? You know, I would love to hear about it."

*Kent simply adjusts into his seat getting ready to enjoy his true love's story in classic 'Metropolis Clark' style.*

Lois: "Okay...! Well, it all started when this guy showed up with this major grudge against the Blur. He also happens to have these bionic arms and a big glowing rock for a heart, but that's way later on in the story!"


*Far later on in the day as Kent and Lane are nearing the end of their shifts in changes of clothes, Lois is finally finishing her story as they walk through the bullpin together, Clark once more with his pair of Glasses on his face as his somewhat nerdy behavior picks up some more and he knocks into the young Jeff.*

Jeff: "You really need to watch where you're going, buddy."

Lois: "Jeff!"

Jeff: "I am so sorry, Mr. Kent."

Clark: "You know, Jeff, um... it's my fault. I'll try to be more careful next time."

Jeff: You, uh... you probably should..."

*Jeff walks off surprised as Miss. Lane gives Mr. Kent a peck on the cheek.*

Lois: "Good job, Mr. Kent."


Later that evening within a warehouse, one Major Zod is giving his troops a stern lecture about their plans we haven't heard of in some time.*

Zod: "This tower must be built at all costs! You, you find your way into City Hall, smooth over any laws that might get in our way. You, infiltrate the power plant to divert the energy we need... and you--"

*Just then, the pack of powerless Kryptonians are finally found by the very empowered Kal-El.*

Kal-El: "I understand you've been looking for me."

Zod: "My brother and sister Kandorians, he has come. Kneel before Kal-El...!"

*With the exception of Zod, the entire platoon of soldiers kneel before the Hero of Metropolis, making him unsure of what to do from here.*


*Later that night, Zod meets up with Faora in the streets of Metropolis far from Kal-El.*

Faora: "Did you find what you were after?"

Zod: "He didn't recognize the symbol."

Faora: "We don't have much time."

Zod: "I know."

Faora: "I guess the Book of Rao is not on Earth after all."

Zod: "No. Jor-El left it here and when we find it... we will have the means to complete the tower... and we will turn the Yellow Sun Red... and then Kal-El... will not be the only one with powers on Earth. He will be just one of many soldiers in my army. Or a prisoner in my stockade."

*Major Zod humbly looks at his constructing towers in the glow of the night while off in space, we see a massive celestial Red object hurtling gradually towards Earth, potentially a key to the plans of Zod in the conversion of the solar energy upon the planet.*


*Elsewhere in a space monitoring station, two observers notice something most unusual.*

Buck: "Sir, you better take a look at the right ascension..."

Jeph: "How long's it been in activity?"

Buck: "There was nothing there ten seconds ago, it just came out of nowhere."

Jeph: "Oh my God... it's heading straight for Earth."


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 8 ~ "My Trials of Love & War"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*As Lois happily goes to bed not too long after getting a clearer look at her Man of Steel, she's instantly engulfed by a bizarre nightmare-ish dream that involves sexual relations with one Clark Kent and post-apocalyptic hell, awakening in a shock that confuses her greatly.*


*The following morning as Valentine's Day has arrived, Miss. Lane finds herself in the office of a shrink of all places, confiding something most interesting as she clears her throat.*

Lois: "Lots of skin..."

Shrink: "So, it's a sex dream? With the coworker you mentioned before? Clark Kent?"

Lois: "What is this, Nightline? Alright, yes, I'm doing the virtual Kama Sutra with Clark Kent. My desk if soft-core central!"

Shrink: "Listen, Lois, you came to me to explore the deeper meaning within these vivid dreams you've been having and all of this doesn't have to be taken literally. A lack of clothing in a dream can signify the desire to uncover what's actually hidden."

Lois: "You know, sometimes I do feel that Clark is hiding something... It sounds crazy, but the closer I get to him, the more... I feel like he's going to disappear."

Shrink: "Maybe you're trying to protect yourself, Lois. Didn't you say that the last time you opened up to someone, your mysterious caller, he vanished?"

*Lane's 'I need a hero!' ring-tone suddenly goes off as she gets a call from said someone.*

Lois: "Speak of the devil, the Halley's comet of phone dating himself. Sayonara, super stud."

*Lois firmly declines to answer.*

Shrink: "You still have strong feelings for this mystery man."

Lois: "Please, remember eight tracks and rotary phones? That's him, ancient history and the fact that you haven't gotten that news flash means I'm probably wasting my time with all this head-shrink mumbo-jumbo stuff."

Shrink: "Lois, you have projected so much onto this mystery caller, maybe you should focus on the man that's right in front of you."


*As Lois ponders in confusion and curiosity, without warning, a vivid flash from her nightmare we didn't see earlier is recalled, a torn cape with Kal-El's 'S' symbol flowing in the wind.*


LOGO: "My Trials of Love & War"


*Later that night, Clark and Lois are out investigating Zod's RAO facility, the latter standing on Mr. Kent's shoulders to get a better look much to what she believes to be his discomfort.*

Lois: "Sorry about the heels, I need the inches."

*Suddenly a door opens from the alley in front of Clark as a man taking out some trash casually sees the duo.*

Clark: "I'm not sure this is such a good idea."

Lois: "Look, either RAO Incorporated is throwing a Valentine's party for their workers behind this wall or they are running double shifts on a Saturday night. A total union violation."

Clark: "Lois, I'm sure someone is keeping an eye on the situation."

*As Lois glares up at the constructing twin towers, she slips and falls into Clark's arms as the two gaze longingly into one another's eyes.*

Lois: "Bingo. They are moving more tech equipment into that building than NASA and if they're skulking around in the middle of the night, they are definitely hiding something."


*The following morning after realizing how right Lois is, Clark super-speeds home in Smallville, only to find an uninvited guest waiting for him in the Kent kitchen holding an apple.*

Clark: "What're you doing here?"

Zod: "Humans horde knowledge, whereas our own Kryptonian religion... well, that teaches knowledge should be shared... by all."

Clark: "I'm sure you didn't come here for a Sunday school lesson, what do you want?"

Zod: "When we bowed down before you, Kal-El, we embraced you with open hearts. Well... some of us feel as if our favor has not been returned."

Clark: "Your people--"

Zod: "--Our people."

Clark: "Our people have assimilated well, they don't need my help as much as the humans."

Zod: "No, we need it more. We have no powers here, Kal-El and they expect you to help us get them, we need leadership, a mentor."

Clark: "I can't help you, I don't know how to give our people my powers."

Zod: "Surely it's a mystery we can solve together."

Clark: "Earth is not another Krypton and trying to make it one is a dangerous plan."

Zod: "Our people, they don't wanna conquer, but... if we don't deliver their powers soon, then sooner or later they will do whatever it takes to get what they want themselves. We, um... we have to be able to defend ourselves, Kal-El. These humans' brutality is uh, is extraordinary... and if they discover us... they will hunt us down like animals."

Clark: "I won't let that happen."

Zod: "You are reluctant to take action because you don't trust me, you think I killed Jor-El... I lost a son and I would never deprive anyone of his father in his life. You must believe me."


*Later that day at the Daily Planet, Clark Kent and Lois Lane meet up at work for some talking.*

Lois: "Clark Kent... and to think I was actually looking forward to breakfast with the Daily Planet's mild-mannered no-show."

Clark: "Late night? I heard you were working on some kind of murder case."

Lois: "Cases, plural and I've got my hands on a case full of classified intel. Like, double super-classified."

Clark: "Mind if I take a look?"

Lois: "Usually we're a great team, but you already decided to go it solo today, so I just followed suit."

Clark: "I'm sorry that I was out, Lois, but maybe I can assist you. We could be like Woodward and Bernstein, Clark and Lois--"

Lois: "--Lois and Clark!"

Clark: "If it's so double super-classified, how did you get on the case, Lois?"

*Lois simply smiles and turns around to Clark, but without seeing her answer, elsewhere in the Planet looms a well dressed Zod.*


*Entering the bullpin, Zod discreetly steals a press-pass and a pair of Glasses to help pass him off as a fellow reporter as he approaches a female one also wearing specs.*

Zod: "Hey, four eyes, help out a visually impaired compadre, hm?

Reporter: "What can I do for you, Magoo?"

Zod: "Well, I have been writing an article on extraterrestrial conspiracy theorists, people who believe aliens roam the Earth. That kind of thing and I've checked with the police, local FBI and Internet groups and I haven't found what I'm looking for yet, so um... I figured if anyone wanted to tell the world they'd seen little green men, they might contact us."

Reporter: "Seems the town's full of UFO nuts, be right back."

Zod: "Why, thank you..."


*Following the Major's leave, Clark ventures out in helping Lois with her story where across the city of Metropolis, he lets himself into a building belonging to one Carter Hall.*

Carter: "The museum is closed... permanently."

Clark: "The door was open."

Carter: "Wasn't supposed to be."

Clark: "Mr. Hall? Mr. Hall, I'm Clark Kent from the Daily Planet."

*Kent offers a handshake not quite as concerned about wearing his specs for this interview, only to recieve a cold stare from the older Carter as he lowers his hand.*


His interview in helping Miss. Lane having gone nowhere, we pick back up with Clark and Lois the next day in aftermath of her murder story.*

Lois: "You know, the byline could have read 'Lois Lane and Clark Kent'."

Clark: "Next time."

*As Lois looks in wonder, Kent's gotten up to get closer to her.*

Clark: "Do you believe in fate, Lois?"

Lois: "Only the kind you make happen."


*Later that night, Kal-El patrols atop his Crow's Nest while also observing Zod's public press meeting about the dawning of his RAO towers' activation, unable to do anything to stop it.*

Zod: "The first rays of the sun fall upon the solar tower tomorrow morning, it will herald the dawn of a new age of infinite power...!"


*On into the night during finishing touches upon the RAO towers, Clark finally takes the gloves off in coming to confront Zod fully decked out as Kal-El of Krypton, ready to firmly discuss his father's fate on Krypton outside by said towers.*

Construction Man 1: "Okay."

Construction Man 2: "Alright, thank you."

Kal-El: "We need to talk."

*Zod simply tries walking off.*

Zod: "Why would I make time for you? You're trying to isolate me from my people."

Kal-El: "You lost your right to lead when you killed my father."

*Zod stops and turns around to settle this once and for all.*

Zod: "He was a brother to me, we had our differences, but I could never take his life."

*A dog-tag is then thrown from hero to villain signifying the House of El that Kal-El wishes to avenge and is tired of any BS.*

Kal-El: "I want you to tell me the truth... Did you kill Jor-El?"

*Just then, unknown to both Kal-El and Zod, the latter's own Kryptonian powers are finally starting to come to him with a glow in his eyes and he emotionally tells the truth.*

Zod: "I didn't kill him."


*As the night wears in, we catch back up with Lois at the Daily Planet just as she's getting a call from Kal-El following his intense talk with Zod, wishing to hear a pleasant voice no matter the mood she's in.*

Kal-El: "Lois... But doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?"

Lois: "Oh, you wanna go there? Let me tell you about second chances, buddy! There's a way you treat a woman, it's called respect. Just because you're some fancy hero--"

Kal-El: "--Lois, I tried--"

Lois: "--There is no 'try', Skywalker, you have super powers! Why don't you pick up a phone!?"

Kal-El: "Lois! You're just gonna have to do something you've had trouble with lately..."

*Without warning, the Man of Steel's phone glitches and allows Kal-El's true sounding voice to peek through, giving Lois much suspicion that he could in fact be Clark Kent.*

Kal-El: "You're gonna have to trust me."

*As he hangs up, she's left mystified.*

Lois: "Smallville...?"


*The following morning atop the Daily Planet as the solar celestial changes are starting to very gradually take effect, Zod tests the fully restored powers he believes to now have as he dives off the Planet roof, taking flight and soaring across Metropolis much to his own delight as he is determined to wage war upon Kal-El.*


*Later that morning as Clark gets dressed to go out for his day off, he hears a knock at the Kent home's front door, seeing Lois handing him a huge box of supplies.*

Clark: "Lois."

Lois: "Handle with care, Smallville, I've had those albums since I was 10."

Clark: "What could I possibly want with your Def Leppard anthology?"

Lois: "I'm moving in."

Clark: "Really?"

Lois: "Hmm."

*Unknown to Clark, this decision's only due to Lois suspecting him of having a dual-identity as she gets something out of the fridge in already investigating.*

Clark: "You think it's a good idea that we live and work together?"

Lois: "Carpooler's dream. Come on, what's the worst thing that could happen, I'd see you in your Snoopy boxers? ...Oh, I uh found this on your doorstep."

*Lois shows Clark a rather heavy package that's just arrived, unknown to both, from a certain Major.*

Lois: "Guess Ma Kent is still gonna make you, uh, care packages. I think she put lead in the cookies."

Clark: "No return address, that's weird."

*Opening up, Kent finds a pentagram-shaped replica of what his mother-crystal became when the Fortress of Solitude was built, much to both his and Miss. Lane's confusion.*

Lois: "What's the funky paperweight for?"

Clark: "I'm not sure."

*As Clark picks it up, the crystal glows most brightly.*

Lois: "Least it came with batteries."

*Suddenly the house itself begins to shake as the crystal's power magnifies and Clark can't let go of it.*

Clark: "Lois, get away! Run, now!"

Lois: "Smallville, just drop it!"

*Without warning as Clark tries to let go of the crystal, a bright light engulfs both him and Lois, sending them both out of the window within a glass shard that quickly leaves the Earth.*


*Up up and away far off in space above the Earth's atmosphere, Lois' image in the glass shard has oddly vanished as Clark is left alone within the shard, knocking away trying to get out only to fall deep down through a portal into a strange wasteland desert he must now wander.*

Clark: "Hello!? Is anyone there!?"

*Through out his wandering, Clark is eventually attacked by a horde of Phantoms within this bizarre Zone as they rip away at his flesh, only letting off and leaving once a mysterious woman cloaked in black uses a 'S'-shaped crystal much like his original mother-crystal to ward them off.*

Clark: "...Thank you...!"

*Just then, she kicks him and knocks him out, revealing her face and showing to be a blonde Kryptonian as she reveals just what place Kal-El has been sent to.*

Raya: "Welcome to the Phantom Zone."


*Back on Earth at night, Lois somehow ends back up on Earth as though her human body wasn't meant to be in the Phantom Zone or that Kal-El was the only one meant to be sent there, waking up by train tracks wondering just where the heck Clark is.*

Lois: "Clark? Clark!?"


*Obviously unknown to Lois, Clark is back in the Phantom Zone within Raya's shelter, getting some treatment for his wounds as they're both clearly powerless.*

Clark: "Who are you?"

Raya: "Raya... not that names matter here."

Clark: "Where is here, exactly?"

Raya: "Jor-El created this place to hold criminals from the 28 known inhabited galaxies."

Clark: "So it's a prison? That makes you an inmate."

Raya: "I may be trapped here, but I'm not one of the prisoners."

Clark: "What, am I supposed to just trust you? I'm running a little low on that lately."

Raya: "Good! In the Zone, trust can get you killed... or worse. Most vicious offenders are condemned for eternity, their corporeal bodies destroyed, their essence haunting the wasteland."

Clark: "The Phantoms, like the ones that attacked me."

Raya: "The crystal your father gave me is the only thing they fear."

Clark: "How did you know Jor-El?"

Raya: "I was one of his assistants."

Clark: "When you were 5?"

Raya: "Time is meaningless here. I wanted to stay with Jor-El in the final hours, but he wouldn't hear of it, he thought I'd have a better chance in the Phantom Zone."

Clark: "Why didn't he and my mother come with you?"

Raya: "Because he wouldn't stop trying to save Krypton and your mother wouldn't leave his side. This is all I have left of your father... Every day, he still saves my life."

Clark: "I have to go, I... have to stop Zod."

Raya: "Zod!?"

Clark: "Wait, you were my father's assistant, you helped him create this place. Is there a way out?"

Raya: "Zod is a soldier, he will kill you."

Clark: "If there was a way for you to save everyone you loved, wouldn't you risk dying?"

Raya: "You truly are your father's son."


*Out in the wasteland, Clark and Raya follow her own memories through the Zone's fierce elements for where Jor-El's back door exit is.*

Kal-El: "Why haven't you used the gateway yourself?"

Raya: "It won't open for anyone except the House of El, your father kept it a secret, a back door in case anyone tried to imprison his family here."

Kal-El: "Why would he have to worry about that?"

Raya: "Jor-El was a great man and like all great men, there were those who wished him ill--!"

*In a sudden shock, Raya and Kal-El are attacked by other rogue Kryptonians within the Zone, Clark getting seriously choked as Raya resorts to something desperate.*

Raya: "He can open the gateway... I was bringing him to you, he can free us all."


*Back on Earth in the early pre-dawn hours of the morning, a menacing van drives along the road as the government is becoming aware of the alien presence on Earth.*

Waller: "Change of plans, Agent Campbell."

Stu: "Change of plans?"

Waller: "We decrypted the data, we found the aliens. Checkmate is going to stop this war before it gets started, Waller out."


*Back in the Phantom Zone one final time, Raya and the thugs make it to the gateway with a bound Kal-El in tow.*

Nam-Ek: "The others will be here soon."

*Knocking Kal-El down with his protective clothing stripped, Nam-Ek draws his knife in a looming threat.*

Nam-Ek: "Open the gateway!"

Raya: "He doesn't know how, but I do. Give me the knife."

Kal-El: "...No..."

*Cutting Clark's hand, the needed blood is drawn.*

Raya: "It's his blood, the blood of the House of El, it's the key to open the gateway."

Clark: "I trusted you...!"

Nam-Ek: "Trust is for the weak."

Raya: "You're right."

*Raya shocks Nam-Ek as she swiftly turns around and slits his throat, prompting his partner to attack Raya.*

Aethyr: "Nam-Ek!"

Raya: "The gateway! Go, Kal-El!"

*Kal-El gets to the gateway console to find his family's 'S' crest upon it, mixing his blood with it and activating a portal to Earth just as Raya is wounded.*

Kal-El: "Raya!"

*Being sucked into the portal, young Kent' time within the Phantom Zone comes to a close...*


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 9 ~ "I Would Never Kneel"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*Upon being sucked back to his adopted home-world, Clark's spirit finds himself within a limbo-esque world appearing to be the Kent barn, the colors of his upper clothing reversed as he tries opening the barn doors only to get some surprising help from the soul of his Earth father.*

Clark: "Dad...!"

Jonathan: "Hello, son."

*Clark happily hugs his Earth father as they're again reunited.*

Clark: "I can't believe it's you!"

Jonathan: "You don't belong here, Clark, you have to go back."

Clark: "Dad... You don't know how hard it's been, all I've done is hurt everyone that's close to me."

Jonathan: "That's not true, son."

Clark: "I'm sorry, Dad... I'm so sorry."

Jonathan: "Believe me, you have nothing to be sorry about. I lived a--a full wonderful life, I had everything that a husband or a... a father could ever possibly dream of. I am so very proud. You can't stay here, son... You've gotta keep your mother safe, you've gotta keep the whole world safe."

Clark: "No, Dad--"

Jonathan: "--Clark--"

Clark: "--Not without you, Dad, I need you, I cannot do this without you."

Jonathan: "Yes you can, this is your destiny, son. You are gonna touch the lives of so many people, not just as a man, but as a... as a symbol. You're a symbol of peace, you're a symbol of justice... and now it's time for you to go."

*Just then, Jonathan shoves Clark off back to the living plane as his body is sent to the Earth side of the Kent barn.*

Clark: "No, not--Dad!"

Jonathan: "I'll always be with you, son...!"

Clark: "...Dad...!"

Jonathan: "Always!"


*Following this enlightening experience, Clark awakens within the genuine Kent barn, back in his normal attire he wore in the Phantom Zone as he steadily gets back up to affirm his feelings he has for one Lois Lane.*


LOGO: "I Would Never Kneel"


*Later that night, Lois returns to the Kent barn hoping to see if Clark's alright after the bizarre supernatural incident they went through in his kitchen.*

Lois: "Clark?"

*Only much to her startled surprise, she sees a crystal-ball within the rafters of the construct as Clark exits from the shadows back in his work clothing, still not yet quite ready to reveal his secret while ready to reveal something else.*

Lois: "Not that I'm an interior designer, but one of these things doesn't exactly go with the other. You really don't need to worry about me, Clark... If anybody understands deadlines and urgent... things, it's me."

Clark: "I'm not worried about you. I missed you."

Lois: "Oh… Well, I don't know, neither of us are primed for Dancing with the Stars and speaking strictly as friends, I don't know if this is such a good idea."

Clark: "Lois, get over here."

Lois: "I'm not sure how we're gonna make this work without the jukebox nostalgia and the balloons and--"

Clark: "--Lois..."

Lois: "Shut up?"

*Clark simply nods with a gentle smile.*

Lois: "Right, shut up."

*As they attempt a dance, Clark accidentally steps on her foot.*

Lois: "Ow!"

Clark: "Sorry?"

Lois: "Hey, I'm the one who put my feet under yours--"

Clark: "--Um, but I..."

Lois: "It's fine."

Clark: "Let's just try this."

*In a polite grace, Clark Kent props Lois Lane in a standing position atop his own feet as they get into their romantic dance.*

Clark: "I love you."

Lois: "I love you, too. ...Clark, there's something that we need to talk about--"

Clark: "--Just for now, can we leave tomorrow till tomorrow and just have this?"

Lois: "Mhmm."

*As they both close their eyes in truly embracing each others' love, Clark floats with Lois in his arms as his development toward flight grows all the stronger.*


*An undisclosed time later in Metropolis, a sacred Kryptonian ceremony is being held by several of the Kandorians for Faora as Clark arrives, seeing a beautiful visual miracle brought about by Kryptonian know-how.*

Clark: "I'm glad you've found a way to preserve our culture here on Earth."

Faora: "I wish everyone saw it that way, Zod disappeared and took the rest of our people with him."

Clark: "I don't understand, I thought all of you had found a new life here on Earth?"

Faora: "We were wrong to follow you, Kal-El... When we did what you asked, we tried to assimilate with the humans, we were left behind. We're gathered here, waiting for Zod's return, to ask his forgiveness."

Clark: "I'm sorry, Faora, I never meant to divide our people, but you cannot realign with Zod."

Faora: "You've never trusted him, Kal-El, all Zod wanted was to give us powers so we could protect ourselves."

Clark: "Zod already has powers, he's had them for weeks... Faora, there's something you need to see."


*That day at the Daily Planet while Clark is taking Faora somewhere, Lois is getting back into the hustle of work as she happily sits at her desk following the romantic night with Clark, just then a super-speed whoosh swoops past her to drop off a note which she reads to herself.*

'It's time for us to finally meet - The Blur'


*At the Kent barn that night, Faora reads a Kryptonian journal Kal-El has kept following his Fortress Training and all Jor-El has told him, learning the truth of Krypton's destruction.*

Faora: "...Zod... He destroyed Krypton."

Clark: "My father sent those messages here to Earth to help me stop history from repeating itself. I trusted Zod too, that's why I didn't tell you any of this sooner. Look, the circumstances may be different, but Zod cannot be trusted. On Krypton, he destroyed their planet to prove a point, we can't let him do the same thing here...!"

Faora: "I'd hoped what Zod had given me would reunite our people."

Clark: "What he gave you? At the ceremony, your sister was protecting you..."

*Realizing the truth, Clark looks down to see a loving hand around Faora's stomach, then using Super-Hearing to listen in on an unborn heart-beat.*

Clark: "You're pregnant... and Zod's the father?"

*Faora simply gives a disgusted nod with many tears in her eyes.*

Clark: "This baby is proof that you can still have a life here, apart from Zod without powers. Faora... Krypton lives on through you."

*Faora draws something down for Kal-El, something Zod has been looking for.*

Faora: "Zod's been looking for something ever since we arrived, the Book of Rao."

Clark: "Zod said the Book of Rao was some sort of Kryptonian Bible."

Faora: "It's so much more than that, it wields great power and if Zod were to get his hands on it... then who knows what he would do?"


*With such a revelation to Kal-El, up in space we see just what the Major's plans are bringing upon the Earth as a certain Red celestial body looms all the closer in being drawn to the towers.*


*On into the night at a warehouse in Metropolis, Faora meets up with her sister and fellow remaining Kandorians still loyal to Kal-El's example.*

Faora: "I know how much I'm asking of you in standing against Zod, I will not let my child be raised under a tyrant's rule, we cannot let our future be guided by a tyrant's hand! Our past ended in war... let our future begin with peace."

*Just then, something breaks a window as tear-gas is sent hurtling into the building, much to the Kandorians' surprises as they're invaded by various black-ops.*

Agent: "There they are! You, go!"

*Many Kandorians are beat down and captured as some try running, only for one to be knocked down badly in front of Faora.*

Faora: "Enough!"

Waller: "You heard her! Enough's enough... The leader comes with me, we have a few things to discuss. ...Dispose of the rest."

*As the Kandorians are lined up, black execution hoods are placed on each of them as Vala is about to get her own.*

Vala: "Please, our people have done nothing, where are you taking us?"

*As her hood is being placed on, a super-speed rush can be heard as all of the agents are knocked out and Vala's hood is taken off to see Kal-El as he helps her up.*

Kal-El: "Vala, where's your sister?"

Vala: "They took her."

*The Man of Steel super-speeds off to save one more.*


*Meanwhile outside, Amanda Waller has driven Faora to another nearby location, finally ready to question a genuine alien.*

Waller: "Our field offices were just leveled by the one you call Zod."

Faora: "We knew nothing about this, Zod is acting alone. We stand apart, we only want peace."

Waller: "Dozens of my agents are dead, we are way past peace."

Faora: "Then we will help you stop him."

Waller: "Defecting means betraying your own kind."

Faora: "I'm only betraying one."

*Without warning, Zod super-speeds in and chucks Waller into her own windshield, but Kal-El super-speeds to the scene just in time to save her life as he super-punches the tyrant through a building... only for him to fly back in stride.*

Zod: "Checkmate's actions demand justice!"

Kal-El: "Murder isn't justice."

*As he tries checking on Waller, Kal-El turns back to Zod too late as he super-speeds away with Faora.*


*Elsewhere, the now-General and his rogue soldier finally discuss things.*

Zod: "Seems like a lifetime ago when I pulled you out of that rubble, doesn't it?"

Faora: "The 'Siege of Argo', there were many losses that day."

Zod: "Not for me, because I found a young and... beautiful cadet who would become my trusted right hand, oh you were so brave in the face of death. I knew then that you would be a true partner. I've trusted you for so very long, depended on you... across time and space. But in your eyes, I just see contempt, I see betrayal... Now, why would you turn your back on me? I shared my bed with you--"

Faora: "--I didn't turn my back on you, you turned your back on us when our only crime was trying to forge a life for ourselves on this planet!"

Zod: "If I ever learned that insurrection had spread across my ranks, if I ever discovered that my men had aligned themselves against me, I would raze this planet, I would burn it to the ground until the last ember went cold beneath my boot...! Now only I will lead us to the next age, all will follow Zod."

Faora: "You already sacrificed one world for your ego."

Zod: "You know nothing of sacrifice."

*Without hinting otherwise to Zod, Faora simply puts her hand to her pregnant stomach.*

Faora: "I know more than you ever will."

Zod: "Kneel...!"

Faora: "...Never..."

*Upon briefly laying a hand upon her cheek, Zod quickly chokes Faora as he strangles her to death, only to realize far too late the pregnant status he left her with as he hears his unborn child's heart-beat die away.*


*As Zod's deep sorrow turns to pure passive rage, Waller and Agent Campbell meet up at their Checkmate castle HQ.*

Waller: "Zod destroyed the Metropolis field office and six more went dark, the Black King is still missing and we're at war. Contact the U.N., we have to regroup before they strike again."

*As the pair turn a hallway, they're surprised by a horde of dead bodies as Zod walks in from the hall's other side.*

Waller: "...Run..."

*While getting away, Zod doesn't hesitate to use his Heat Vision upon their path and burn the castle down to the ground.*


*At the Fortress of Solitude as the solar changes gradually become all the more in favor to the Kandorians, Zod gathers the other rogues as they have finally attained their own powers, Faora's dead body serving as a prop to further the General's war upon humanity.*

Zod: "...What was to be the first son of Kandor is no more, now we, the last sons and daughters of Krypton have no choice but to preserve our birthright. The humans killed the mother of my unborn child... the mother of your future!"

Clark: "That's a lie!"

*To Zod's glance, Clark Kent shows up at what's truly his Kryptonian home.*

Clark: "The last time that I saw Faora, she was alive... and she was alone with Zod."

Zod: "Why should they believe you? This traitor saved the life of the woman who held you hostage, the woman who wanted to dissect you, who wanted to torture you. Murder you."

Clark: "Vala, if there's anyone who really knows what your sister wanted, it's you. It was peace, Vala, she wanted peace."

Vala: "No, Zod's right. The humans will never allow Kandor peace."

Basqat: "They will hunt us to the last man, but they will fail, for we shall never be defeated. We will follow General Zod to the ends of this Earth..."

*As they all kneel before their leader, General Zod stands tall.*

Zod: "Krypton will rise again... and all humankind will kneel before Zod."

Clark: "I'll never let that happen!"

Zod: "You won't be able to stop us."

*Zod gives a mere nodding motion with his head to the others as they all soar off through the roof of the Fortress of Solitude, leaving a flightless Kal-El feeling an attempt to go after them would be futile as Zod heads off to join them, the war having now begun.*


*Zod's army wages war upon the world as they incite fires with their General's 'Z' emblem upon the Great Wall of China, the ancient ruins of Greece, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, and even the Washington Monument in DC as Basqat stands proudly upon it.*


*Atop Kal-El's Crow's Nest, Zod awaits a meeting while looking over Metropolis, unwilling to turn around in greeting the arrival of Basqat.*

Basqat: "General, have you retrieved the Book of Rao? ...Sir, if Kal-El still holds it, you said he'd use it to kill us all."

Zod: "Do not question my resolve. I will not fail, I will destroy the Book of Rao, do you not have a mission to complete?"


*On the streets of Metropolis beneath him, Lois stands by her and Kal-El's phone booth awaiting a promised meeting between them wondering if it could in fact be Clark, only to hear a different sounding voice.*

Zod: "I knew I could count on you."

*Lois considers this stranger may in fact by her Man of Steel with a half-smile, but upon closer examination and hearing his voice more, knows he couldn't possibly be.*

Zod: "This is not a game..."

Lois: "You're not really him."

*Zod doesn't argue as Lois tries walking off, only for him to super-speed right in front of her path.*

Zod: "I should've known better than to deceive the Blur's most devoted follower."

Lois: "Just who the hell are you!?"

Zod: "Unlike the Blur, I'm someone who doesn't care whether you live or die."

*Roughly grabbing a hold of Lane's shoulders and shoving her far off into the phone booth's direction, Kal-El of Krypton shows up just in time to super-punch General Zod across Metropolis as he's able to catch Lois just before she fatally hits the booth's glass further, super-speeds a few feet away as she comes to and sees him in the street corner's shadows.*

Lois: "Can you ever forgive me for thinking he was you? Please say something..."

*All Kal-El can do is grab a hold of her hand and pull Miss. Lane into the shadows with him, planting on her the first kiss Lois has with this side of his dual-identity and super-speeding off to leave Lois, now more suspicious he's Clark Kent than ever before.*

Lois: "Clark...!"


*Kal-El super-speeds atop his Crow's Nest to keep an eye out for Zod, not too surprised to find him flying in to continue their fight.*

Kal-El: "You can't stop me, Zod."

Zod: "I'm not going anywhere and neither are they."

*Suddenly, most of Zod's key fellow Kandorian soldiers fly in on the scene to back their General up, only for the Man of Steel ready to verbally turn the tables on him as he spots Vala.*

Kal-El: "Having others finish a fight that you started only proves what a coward you are."

Zod: "My soldiers know I have never wavered in the face of death, all you've ever done is hide in the shadow."

Kal-El: "You've hidden too, the truth from them!"

*The Hero of Metropolis then turns his attention to the other soldiers as well.*

Kal-El: "We can build a new home, Krypton will live again."

Zod: "This is just another one of his deceits, we all know where his allegiance lies."

Kal-El: "What about your deceptions? If they knew the truth, they'd never follow you."

Zod: "My men willingly follow me."

Kal-El: "And what about Faora!? All she wanted was to leave you--?"

Zod: "--That is a lie!"

Kal-El: "And she paid for it with her life."

Zod: "Faora never should've trusted you."

Kal-El: "But she wasn't the only one who paid the price, was she?"

*Hitting a nerve, Zod tackles Kal-El into a wall of the Nest, whispering into his ear without recalling his soldiers can now Super-Hear in on him.*

Zod: "Faora was a traitor...! Do you think I wanted to kill my own child...?"

*Zod realizes what he's just done as he sees the expressions on his troops' faces, turning his attention from Kal-El on to them.*

Zod: "Your sister was a traitor."

*Vala simply rips off her arm-band loyal to him.*

Zod: "She would've betrayed us all."

*Basqat and just about all of the others join her in ripping their own bands off, the more assertive soldier having to stop Vala from attacking him.*

Basqat: "Wait!"

*Just then as a massive storm begins, as if the great Red Sun itself is crying upon the Kryptonians in wake of their tragedy, the soldiers allow the epic brawl between Kal-El of Krypton and General Zod to commence atop the former's Crow's Nest... only for Zod to reveal a secret Blue Kryptonite weapon to mortalize them both.*

Kal-El: "Blue Kryptonite...?"

Zod: "I told you, I'm not going anywhere!"

*The Man of Steel super-speeds over as both Kryptonians are rendered mortal by the direct exposure, forced to fight it out without powers.*

Zod: "Better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven!"

*Zod lays a vicious cut upon Kal-El's chest that rips open the iconic 'S' on his black suit, forcing him to strip off his cape-like trenchcoat to help provide cover.*

Zod: "Seeing as you love the humans so much, let's see if you fight like one!"

*The two have an even fight as they both deal damage to one another, only for Zod to eventually get a slight advantage upon kicking Kal-El through a window, eventually bringing the Blue K knife toward his chest as the Man of Steel struggles to keep it from going in.*

Zod: "Unlike you, I will lead from a throne, not from the shadows! Every human, including the woman you love will kneel before Zod!"

*The two edge closer to a cliffside of the Nest, Kal-El trying all he can to keep from getting stabbed.*

Kal-El: "You already destroyed my first home, I won't let you take this one...!"

*In a moment of pure shock, the knife gets through Kal-El's defense much to Zod's relief, leaving the Hero of Metropolis to fall down to the streets of the city he may be dying to protect, the storm raging on as Zod's powers then return to him and Kal-El's body impacts the ground.*


*While Zod only has a couple loyal followers left as the rest have abandoned him and Earth, Lois Lane is running through the streets of Metropolis during the great Rao storm, seeing whom she recognizes as her loving Clark Kent injured most grimly as she runs up to him.*

Lois: "Clark! Clark, no! Clark!? No...!

*Just then as Lois looks down to see the Blue K knife in his gut, she also sees the iconic 'S' upon his chest, at last 100% confirming to her that Clark Kent is her Man of Steel.*

Lois: "...Clark! Please...! Please come back to me!"

*As Lois tries listening in for his heart-beat, Kal-El's spirit awakens once again within an abyss between life and death, this one now looking like the fields of corn from his home town as he stands up and follows a path in the corn to try figuring out where he is... eventually coming upon a cross-like scarecrow post.*

Jor-El: "...Kal-El..."

*Startled to hear Jor-El's voice, Kal-El realizes he just saw a tombstone holding the 'Kent' name teleport to him out of nowhere, hesitating somewhat to answer back to his true father.*

Kal-El: "Jor-El! Am I dead?"

Jor-El: "You're teetering on the abyss between life and death... which is why I am still able to reach you."

Kal-El: "My father's grave. ...Why show me this?"

*Brushing grass aside that conceals the first name, he's slightly shocked to see his own, 'Clark'.*

Jor-El: "After you die, this stone will be all that is left of you in the world."

Kal-El: "Then send me back... I know my fate! To step into the light... to be a symbol of hope for them. I can do it, I can be their hero!"

*Just then, Kal-El swings at the stone and manages to crack it, turning the multicolored skies a blank white as he loses contact with his father.*

Kal-El: "Jor-El!? Let me fight this evil like I always have! Send me back!"

*Just then, Kal-El turns around to see a metaphorical image of Lex Luthor, the same man he rescued in his very first super-save.*

Kal-El: "Lex...!"

*As he stares down what appears to be Luthor, Kal-El sees a bright light envelop the figure of him that quickly turns to himself, the Man of Steel getting sent back to his body as Lois pulls the knife out in many tears.*

Lois: "Oh, God, Clark... Clark...!"

*In a rage, she chucks the knife away and cradles Kal-El's body, allowing the Blue K's effects to wear off as Kent has just enough power left to start healing.*

Lois: "...Clark... Clark--Clark... Okay..."

*Hearing him starting to wake up, she's unsure rather he knows she knows, but nonetheless decides to respect his secret as she sets his head down and runs off to the corner, seeing him struggle back up to his feet and heal as he sees her in turn... only for his powers to now go away due to the Red Sun's full-fledged effects in orbit.*


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Act 10 ~ "Stepping Into the Light"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*13 hours later following the Red Sun's effects becoming indefinite, we find Lois Lane wandering the littered and abandoned streets of Metropolis, looking for Clark as she now knows his secret and evidently he is aware having seen her witnessing his healing in the light.*

Lois: "Hello!?"

*As she gazes at the Red Sun in wonder, she can hear a massive super-something going on a couple blocks away as a huge fight reaches its climax, the empowered General Zod dragging a totally powerless Kal-El through the streets.*

Zod: "I should have known you'd come after me, all to save a doomed race. When faced with a crumbling world, these humans, they'd rather die than unite under a single leader... and do what's required to build a glorious new world."

*Clark then sees Lois by a street curve as she's brought a weapon he may've requested.*

Zod: "It's tragic, you thought you could take me on like this? Metropolis would not be destroyed if you had all just stopped fighting and joined me!"

Kal-El: "We'll never stop fighting, Zod, humanity will never lose its spirit!"

*Zod simply pushes him down further while Lois slides a shielded knife over to him, only for Zod to spot Lois and step on his hand in keeping Kent from using it.*

Zod: "Goodbye, son of Jor-El."

*Zod then lays a massive super-kick into Kal-El, knocking him through a building and out as Lois tries running up to him, only for Zod to get toward her.*

Lois: "Clark!"

*As Zod grabs hold of her, the unexpected happens as his RAO towers fail in their connection with the giant celestial object in orbit, rendering the Red Sun's direct connection with the Kandorians and Kal-El useless as the latter's powers get restored.*

Zod: "No..."

Kal-El: "Zod! Your reign of terror is over, Zod!"

Zod: "You chose to fight me, you forced me to unleash my power! We could have made this planet a paradise!"

Kal-El: "It always was, but you never gave humanity a chance."

*In a total shock, Zod then stabs Kal-El with a weapon he wasn't expecting, the Green Kryptonite knife Lois slid over to him, twisting it in him as he grabs hold of a shoulder.*

Zod: "You'll have destroyed our world...!"

*Luckily, the Man of Steel is able to muster up the strength to knock Zod back into a van and out, falling to his knees as he manages to pull yet another knife out of his gut, Lois then running over to him to get it away.*

Lois: "Clark, Clark!"

Kal-El: "Lois...!"


LOGO: "Stepping Into the Light"

*Kal-El & General Zod exchange some final words, atop blackness following this Act's logo, the Man of Steel having finally won the war.*

Zod: "...I will have my revenge...!"

Kal-El: "No more second chances!"


*Returning to the story, we see Zod and his only remaining two allies being imprisoned within the Phantom Zone just as the General had originally been on Krypton, Kal-El finally able to send the monster to the hell he also sent him.*


*At the Kent home, the news is reporting on the giant Rao-like celestial body that lost its connection with Zod's towers, now looming even closer to Earth than before as it's become the true threat.*

Newscaster: "All across the globe, crowds are--"

*As Clark, Lois, and Martha hear the Earth-shattering roars of the Red Sun, Clark looks apart from the embracing women in his life and toward the front door as the spirit of Jonathan Kent reveals himself, deciding to follow him from the Kent home into the barn's loft.*

Clark: "Dad?"

Jonathan: "I knew you'd see me again, when you were ready."

Clark: "I made a mistake, Dad... I thought I had to leave you behind, but it's you and Mom... and everyone that I care about that makes this world worth saving."

Jonathan: "But you're worried you're gonna fail this time, I know you're scared, son. ...Clark Kent, as much as your mother and I tried to protect you from your origins, tried to prepare you to face any challenge... I'm sorry, son, but our guidance just isn't enough anymore. You're gonna have to let Jor-El guide you from here on out."

Clark: "I can't, Dad, I turned my back on him like I did you."

Jonathan: "He's your father...! He'll understand."

*Jonathan kisses Clark's head in a loving embrace as Martha makes it to her son, not able to see her late husband's spirit, but now more than ever ready to help give their son the words he needs.*

Martha: "Don't doubt yourself, Clark, this has been coming for a long time. Before you arrived, we wanted a child so badly... The day you found us in that field, you were the miracle we prayed for. Now the world needs that same miracle."

*Clark hugs his mother and shares a look with Jonathan as he joins the embrace, the moment being shaken by the Red Sun's eruptions.*

Jonathan: "Son... It's time."

*As Kent looks at both of the loving people who raised him, he can only say two simple words as the trio's eyes say enough all the love that exists.*

Clark: "...Thank you..."

*Clark then super-speeds off into the distance as Jonathan stays with Martha a while longer, the both of them looking up at the looming Red Sun their boy must now stop.*


*In the rebuilding streets of Metropolis as its citizens gaze at the Red Sun among them, Kal-El joins his fellow employees at the Daily Planet, putting on his Glasses as 'Metropolis Clark' walks among them to find Lois.*

Clark: "Lois?"

Lois: "All satellite and Internet connections went down 15 minutes ago."


*Up up and away in orbit, the Red Sun looms all the closer near a fatal collision with the Earth.*


*Back in the Daily Planet, Clark Kent and Lois Lane work hard to find someone intelligent enough at being capable of helping Clark to putting a stop to this apocalypse upon the planet.*

Lois: "Yeah, but the GPS went down with the satellites."

Clark: "This should tell us where he was 15 minutes ago. Lois, that's the Luthor mansion..."

Lois: "But that place burned to the ground."

Clark: "The Luthor mansion was built on a labyrinth of corridors underneath it."

*As Kent heads off to see if this place holds a person whom can help him figure out how to save the world, a crashing roar disturbs him as he briefly goes back to Miss. Lane.*

Clark: "Lois, no matter what happens--"

Lois: "--Clark, a person that I greatly admire once told me that when you believe in someone it's not just for a few minutes, or sometimes, or just for now... It's forever! Now go save the world."

*The two share a romantic kiss within the bullpin.*

Lois: "I'll be fine."

*Clark finally manages to head off as the radio volume turns up louder.*

President: "I call on each and every one of you to stand strong in these moments to come. Our military has a precision plan to take care of the meteor fragment, we will take swift action in securing the world's safety."


*Back in the town of Smallville, Clark finds the long-ago-burned wreckage of the Luthor mansion, super-speeding in looking for anyone who might be able to help him and wondering if it's the same man he saw in his abyss experience.*

Lex: "Hello, Kal-El."

Clark: "Lex...!"

*Kent turns around with his Glasses now off, facing down Lex Luthor, the same man he saved when a mere Freshman in high school and was in the abyss with during his war with Zod.*

Lex: "You know, I used to think it was our families that made us who we are, then I hoped it was our friends... But if you look at history, the great men and women of the world have always been defined... by their enemies. You were born to be the chosen one. You're simply better than us."

Clark: "And that always killed you."

Lex: "No, no what killed me is that you didn't even want it. You fought it, you-you hid from it! I would've taken it and relished it, embraced it."

Clark: "My destiny wasn't yours to take!"

Lex: "I get that now, which is why I finally embraced my own. You and I, we will both be great men... because of each other!"

Clark: "And I'll always be there to stop you... Always."

Lex: "Oh, I'm counting on it. Our story hasn't been written yet, Kal-El... and every villain is only as great as his hero. But you see, that all relies on you saving us from the coming apocalypse. Only you hold the power within you."

*Clark considers what might've been had he stayed in Lex's life way back, thinking of what to say for a moment.*

Clark: "I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Lex."

*In a moment of stand-off as Lex Luthor and Clark's Kryptonian side have at last come face-to-face, Kal-El super-speeds off from Luthor, leaving him with quite a smile on his evil face.*


*Returning to Metropolis, Clark reunites with Lois still somewhat unsure of where to go from here, but out of view of other citizens as he wonders just how to put a stop to this massive star.*

Clark: "Looks like we may be too late."

Lois: "Clark, you're the only person who can get up there and put an end to this right now."

Clark: "I know what you're gonna say, but--"

Lois: "--No, Clark, there are no buts with you! No exception to the rule."

Clark: "Lo--Eh, I don't know, it--"

Lois: "--Yea--Okay, okay, Clark! You don't have to know, if you won't believe in yourself, then let me believe in you, okay? I know that deep inside, you don't wanna just be a normal guy sitting behind a desk, reporting on disasters while you could be out there stopping them! Use the power you feel... The world needs you."

*At last convinced to fully master flight or die trying, Clark whips off his work coat and crouches down, leaping off the ground as he at last allows his biological father to make contact with him during this final trial of learning.*


*Within Clark's mind, he is nurtured by the powerful and loving guidance of Jor-El.*

Jor-El: "You have always had the power within you, my son."

*Clark is suddenly shown flashes of his various tribulations over the years in the defining moment he truly needs to herald in his iconic years as the Man of Steel.*

Clark: "These were my trials."

Jor-El: "Your final trial is upon you, my son. You are ready. Seize your destiny."


*Thanks to a final helping hand from his father, Clark Kent has at last truly embraced the power to fly back in the real world, having picked up Lois Lane as he takes her on a romantic flight around the big city before he moves to dropping her off so he can soar even higher.*

*Within the LuthorCorp towers of Metropolis, Lex Luthor moves to his windows where he can observe Kent flying off to greatness, in addition to the dreaded Red Sun he must stop while the violent storms shift Luthor's corporation into that of LexCorp.*


*Upon being dropped back off at the Daily Planet and after changing her clothes, Lois gets to the copy room for a talk with the reporter fixed up to interview the President.*

Lois: "Janet, you're covering the President's visit, right? Look, I need you to get a message to him for me."

Janet: "Hmm."

Lois: "Look, I grew up in the military, that speech has buzz words. 'Precision plan', 'swift action'... They're gonna nuke that thing, only that thing isn't the little meteor that'll break apart like they think it is, it's a planet and it won't even make a dent! But the radioactive fallout of this missile, it'll kill millions."

Janet: "Take it to the Inquisitor, I've got a plane to catch with the President."

Lois: "Oh okay, well then, you tell him that he can't press the proverbial button."

Janet: "Why not?"

Lois: "Because the Blur'll save us before it ever comes to that."

Janet: "The 'Blur'!? Oh my God, Lois, if you think the President, his military advisers, or anyone is ever gonna take you seriously?"

*Just then, Lois 'pistol'-whips Janet out with a stapler.*

Lois: "I'm sorry, I wouldn't have had to do that if the world wasn't in jeopardy... and you weren't such a *****."

*Lois swipes her press-pass and heads off to Air Force One.*


*Back at the Kent farm, Clark Kent has returned to his old home one final time for a tad bit of practice in flying, getting back down to the ground to open a hidden chamber where he keeps an activation crystal for the Fortress.*

Clark: "I am Kal-El of Krypton... it is time to fulfill my destiny."

*As Clark's picked up the crystal, he simply admires it, at last ready to do what needs to be done now that the power to fly is 100% his.*


*Up over the city of Metropolis flies Air Force One where Lois sits with other reporters, hiding the name on her press-pass as she gets up to try finding the President.*

Agent: "You're not authorized to go in there."

Lois: "Well, I must have forgotten my hall pass, I was just going to the bathroom."

Agent: "It's that way."

Lois: "Okay, well they said that they would brief us in 2 minutes, it's now been 15 and I really need... ...Do you see that giant molten orb out there? Now whatever story they told you, it's crashing into the planet! You can see it with your own eyes."

*As he goes to the window for a look, Miss. Lane hastily sneaks ahead to the jet's next section.*

Agent: "Hey, hey hey hey hey hey!"

Lois: "I just need a few minutes of your time."

Agent: "I'm sorry, sir--"

Lois: "--No, wait! I have information that you need to know!"

Mr. Secretary: "I don't know how you got on this plane, young lady, but you're stepping so far out of your position--"

Lois: "--All that matters is the truth and you don't have it! Please, Mr. Secretary... "

*Giving a nod to his agents, they let Lois go as she's ready to reveal much.*

Lois: "I have proof that the meteor that you're about to nuke into oblivion is much larger than you realize, with a density that will result in you spewing nuclear fallout over half the hemisphere that could take out millions of people... But you already know that, don't you? My God, do you all realize that you're gonna be taking out a third of the Earth's population and you're not even gonna warn them?"

Military Officer: "We can't spread panic."

Mr. Secretary: "It will only aggravate an already-impossible situation."

Lois: "And what about your families... and the President? Where are we gonna--"

Lady: "To a secure bunker! The casualties are nothing compared to losing the entire planet, we don't have a choice..."

Lois: "No, wait, you do have a choice... Heroes! One in particular who will stop this before you unleash your nukes."

Mr. Secretary: "The world is in Crisis! This is not a time for your little hero crusade, Miss--?"

Lois: "--Lane! This is exactly the time for my hero, he will be here, he will save us! I promise! Now, I know that you all wanna see your families again, you just need to give our heroes a chance!"

Mr. Secretary: "Your heroes have five minutes."


*At the Fortress of Solitude, Clark returns to the presence of his father at last ready to do what needs to be done to save the world.*

Jor-El: "Your journey has come to an end, Kal-El."

Clark: "I shouldn't have tried to push away my Kryptonian side, my strength is accepting it, accepting you."

Jor-El: "You honor me. A father's pride cannot be measured in words, but know that I am proud of you, son."

Clark: "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that."

Jor-El: "We have been down a long road together, Kal-El, one paved with difficult trials. Those trials are behind you now. Any father can only hope that he is one day humbled by the feats of his son, but it is your soul, Kal-El of which I am most proud. You and you alone possess the courage, the determination, and the compassion that will be required of you to lift the darkness from the Earth."

*Just then, Jor-El brings up out of the ice the preserved suit made by Martha Kent and which he took hold of when Kal-El first built his Fortress so long ago, now back in front of him at last.*

Jor-El: "I ask you to remember one thing... Your abilities may be of my blood, but it is your time in Smallville with Jonathan and Martha Kent and all the people there that made you a hero, Kal-El."

*As Clark turns back to his father's console in a truly emotional moment, where his suit was behind him stands the spirit of Jonathan Kent, holding his full-fledged uniform now in the open.*

Jonathan: "Always hold on to Smallville."

*Surprised to see his Earth father one last time, Jonathan offers the suit to Clark which he proudly steps up and takes in his arms while just as Jonathan vanishes, Clark gradually takes off in an epic flight where the iconic figure of whom will one day be named Superman suits up and exits his Fortress of Solitude to stop the Red Sun.*


*Back on Air Force One, the jet is hit by serious turbulence that sends Lois and everyone inside flying about within as the jet is about to head down when the window-placed Miss. Lane suddenly spots a familiar figure flying to save them, her iconic Man of Steel gets Air Force One back on track as he briefly shares a perfect look with Lois and flies off to save the world... while she's at a loss for words in picking up a camera.*

Lois: "This is Lois Lane of the Daily Planet, reporting from aboard Air Force One."

Obama: "Miss. Lane."

Lois: "Mr. President...!"


*As Superman flies over Metropolis to inspire the fear-driven citizens, he makes it up all the way to the Red Sun's surprisingly solid surface as he drills all the way in to lift the massive celestial entity up, up and away.*

*On the streets of Metropolis, the citizens are thrilled after getting their third clearest look at Kal-El and seeing him save their world, couples kiss while Superman is up in space observing the object's departure just before he humbly returns to Earth.*


END-CREDITS

[SSJConan]

The Man of Tomorrow -- Epilogue ~ "Now, Then, Forward"


LOGO: "The Man of Tomorrow"


*In the bright city of Metropolis during the day, after the city's finished rebuilding following the war with Zod and near-collision of his Red Sun, walks Lois Lane and Clark Kent as the latter continues perfecting his 'Metropolis Clark' side of life... much to his discomfort.*

Clark: "Lois, we're going against traffic."

Lois: "Sort of the point here, Clark, try and keep up."

Clark: "These Glasses are driving me crazy---"

Lois: "--So you've said."

Clark: "And this jacket, it's not helping."

Lois: "Okay, you were the one who chose to take his hero game public, so either the Blur starts wearing a mask or--"

Clark: "--Clark Kent does, I know."

Lois: "Your words, not mine."

*Having swiped his specs off, Kent tries shifting the point to his favor.*

Clark: "Yeah, but that's--"

Lois: "--Yeah, but before that handsome hero face ends up on Jumbotron screens in all your red-and-blue glory, we need to make sure that there is nothing handsome or heroic about Clark Kent."

Clark: "And that's supposed to help?"

Lois: "Yes! So, just... I dunno, slope your shoulders a little bit, speak a little softer and stop being so so..."

Clark: "What?"

Lois: "Great. Honey, you need to be invisible and forgettable and..."

*Lois spots a rather nerdy kid across the street messing around with a comic book.*

Lois: "Exactly like that!"

*Clark takes a peek and is kinda sorry he did, catching the kid drop his backpack of books.*

Lois: "What is it?"

Clark: "Lois, I was like that, in Smallville. The thought of going back to that, I--"

Lois: "--Clark, the real you can burn holes through buildings with a look and lift a freight trait with one finger, get over it."

Clark: "Ya' know, the last thing you should worry about is teaching me 'Mild-Mannered 101', you should be focused on that promotion that opened up now that Steve Lombard went to the Daily Star. They said that desk could be yours."

Lois: "I'm counting on it."

*Miss. Lane casually gets back out the Glasses to place back on Mr. Kent.*

Lois: "...These need to stay on. Just work on it..."


LOGO: "Now, Then, Forward"


*Back at the Daily Planet, Lois is packing up things from her desk as she comes across one Cat Grant right behind her, bringing along many 'S'-emblem cookies.*

Cat: "Congratulations on the promotion, Lois."

Lois: "What's the catch?"

Cat: "No catch, you deserved it."

*Lois looks down and sees Cat's own packing box with her name-plate.*

Lois: "What's with the box, moving on?"

Cat: "Oh, moving in. You may be going upstairs, but I'll be keeping cozy right down here, just a few desks over."

*Clark shows up behind the ladies, Glasses and all, as the bullpin stays busy.*

Clark: "Is that the last of it, Lois?"

Lois: "Clark, meet your new desk buddy."

Clark: "Really?"

*Clark intentionally knocks over Cat's box of supplies 'on accident'.*

Clark: "I'm so sorry."

Cat: "Lois, Clark's nice and all, but if you wanna invest in a fixer-upper... But he's no Blur."

Lois: "No, no he's not."


*Later that night in Metropolis, the mood shifts to a dark one as a familiar character from the start of this story returns, Lionel Luthor arriving at LexCorp tower to see his son within his main office.*

Lex: "I'm sure there were moments... when King Arthur regretted pulling the sword from the stone, but he never gave up his quest. So why did you?"

Lionel: "You think I can control the fate of individuals? Oh ...You give me too much credit."

Lex: "You certainly controlled mine. It wasn't an accident we were in Smallville the day of the meteor shower, was it? The factory was just a cover, you were really there to meet this Traveler."

Lionel: "Those are the memories of a small boy in shock trying to cope with the trauma of a meteor shower--"

Lex: "--A trauma brought on by my own father! My life changed forever that day... You sacrificed me for the Traveler. Why...?"

*Giving up on getting an answer, Lex walks away from his father and pulls a gun out.*

Lionel: "Lex... I know how strong it is, the attraction of the dark power, but it will destroy you. I can't let you go down that terrible path."

*Lex simply cocks his gun and pointing it in his father's direction, shoots the glass behind him, all Lionel can do now is try one last attempt at appealing to any possible good within him.*

Lionel: "There will be no redemption for you, no redemption... Ever!"

Lex: "I was raised in your shadow, now you're gonna die in mine. No one will even remember your name."

*And with that, Lex coldly shoves his own father out of the window of his office, killing him in a 100% evil act without shedding a single tear.*


*One week later in the town of Smallville, Kal-El visits his Earth father's grave as he's made the move from his parents' Kent farm to Metropolis, decked out in a replacement suit for the time.*

Kal-El: "You were right, Dad, I never stopped blaming myself for what happened to you. It was a way to not have to let go, exactly what I have to do to move on. To get rid of the darkness of my past I've been carrying around, to be there for the people who need me now. You said to hold on to Smallville... I will, I won't ever forget, because you'll be with me no matter where I go. But I have to say the one thing I never could."

*Digging a bit into the ground, the son buries a watch of his father's.*

Kal-El: "Goodbye, Dad. I promise to be the man you knew I could be."


*Having walked off from his father's grave back to his life in Metropolis, 'Metropolis Clark' returns to the Daily Planet in search for Lois as he makes it to her new office.*

Clark: "Lois? Sorry that I'm late..."

*As Kent tries finding his true love, he takes his specs off to realize she's nowhere to be found.*


*To much surprise of Clark's, Lois has taken a reporting assignment over in the middle east where she arrives to a dig tent, making a call with her cell to the Planet's Editor & Chief.*

Lois: "Perry, it's Lane, I really hope this story is worth it because so far my dream assignment is turning into 1001 Arabian nightmares and you know what, I really hope per diem covers the 11-hour camel ride... and as for this newly unearthed tomb of Isis? All I see are some rocks and a couple of tents. Call me!"

*Getting off her phone, Lane enters the main digger's tent.*

Lois: "Hello!? Lois Lane, Daily Planet!"

*Setting her things down, Lois comes upon an ancient Egyptian drawing, only for a mysterious man to walk up behind her.*

Carter: "They were star-crossed lovers! Guess you never know what fate has planned for you."


*Back in Metropolis, Clark Kent sits at an outside cafe trying out patrolling as his 'Metropolis Clark' side, hearing something strange from across town.*


*Back on Lois' case, she tries some interviewing with Mr. Hall within his tent.*

Lois: "So, you're a bona fide Indiana Jones and they fly you in to make sure these aren't lifted from some souvenir shop in Cairo?"

*Lois picks up a Ra statue as Carter is preparing to text away to Clark Kent.*

Text: 'Lois Lane is safe. You owe me big time.'

Carter: "And that they're intact and well preserved, in other words, hands off."

Lois: "I know the Egyptians were big on the afterlife, but burying your pet bird? Someone needs therapy."

Carter: "That is the sun god Ra, bringer of light and life, he was revered."

Lois: "He has the head of a parakeet."

Carter: "It's a falcon."

Lois: "Potato, 'potato'. So, why was this hawk guy so important?"

Carter: "It's said that each day, he traveled across the sky through the underworld to be born again at sunrise."

Lois: "A god reborn with the sun."

*Some tea is brought in to the pair.*

Carter: "Thank you, Ati."

Lois: "I have to admit, this assignment? A little out of my strike zone, I mean I was raised by a very grounded four-star General who believed in what you can see, touch, blow up."

Carter: "Things that can be explained."

Lois: "It's just you can live your whole life without any proof of something like a-a god or whatever and then one day, you look up and realize the guy sitting across from you is... Ra!"

Carter: "You think the guy sitting across from you is an ancient sun god?"

Lois: "No, of course not! But what if he were? One minute, you know you know what you know and the next, you realize you don't know anything but you wanna know everything! What is the world like for him, does he feel pain? How does he heal, when does he sleep? Does he even sleep?"

Carter: "This is gonna require something stronger than tea."

*Carter proceeds to whip out some booze.*

Lois: "How can he stand driving in a car when they move so much slower than he does? That would drive me crazy!"

*Hall plants down two shot glasses with the bottle he got out, finally ready to talk openly about the man he met at some undisclosed point in the past.*

Carter: "Maybe you should just ask Clark. Now, why don't you sit down before you drive me crazy?"


*Later that night over in Metropolis, a latest threat Kal-El is dealing with involves a meeting he listens in on being held by Metallo and lead by the man responsible for a warehouse explosion he once put a stop to in his black suit, Toyman... along with many other new villains.*

Toyman: "To my esteemed members of Marionette Enterprises, I bid you... hello. If you'd be so kind as to pass your mission folders around, you'll find pertinent information on each of your targets. I know it might feel like cheating to know what the other side is and with the help of our newest associate, we'll finally take control of the Metropolis aquifer. We will bleed their pockets dry until the parched populace is dancing for us like puppets on a string! We are going to have so... much... fun!"


*All the while during Toyman's sadistic plans, Lois is boozing it up with Carter as they give each other the skinny on Clark and their own personal lives.*

Lois: "It feels somehow that I was destined to be with Clark, but his destiny is so much bigger and the last thing that I would ever want is to be the one thing that holds him back or stands in the way."

Carter: "What if you're exactly the thing that might help him be the person you know he can be? What if you're the one who makes his burden easier to bear?"

Lois: "Do you think that's why he sent you? To make sure I was safe?"

Carter: "He worries about you."

Lois: "Okay... Well, I better get my beauty sleep. All this dry heat."

Carter: "Lois, I'd like you to have something... It was given to me by my wife, it's a story about two star-crossed lovers. Prince Khufu and Shayera were murdered by an evil man, but their love was so strong they were bonded for all eternity. Lifetime after lifetime, they were reborn to find their one true love... only to lose each other in death again."

Lois: "That's a terrible story."

Carter: "I like it."

Lois: "If you're into the whole Egyptian Groundhog Day thing--"

Carter: "--After many years, Khufu grew tired of always waiting to find his beloved, so he traveled the world seeking other women, trying to forget Shayera. Unable to rid her from his heart, he returned home resigned to his fate, no sooner did he arrive at the palace when... he saw her."

*In a shock, Carter can see his lost Shayera in place of Lois as he moves closer to her,*

Carter: "She was there all along, but he didn't recognize her because the time wasn't right. He needed to wait... because it made their love stronger... and their kiss that much sweeter."

*Carter is drawn to planting a kiss on Lois confusing her for Shayera, only to get slapped.*

Lois: "Try that again and the next thing kissing your lips will be my fist."

*Lois swiftly leaves the tent to leave Carter in confusion.*


*On into the night back in the streets of Metropolis, 'Metropolis Clark' must put a stop to Toyman and Metallo's schemes as he sees a humble phone booth, running to it for a discreet place in changing to his full-fledged alias as the Man of Steel.*

*Evidently in prison, Toyman talks away to his employer about their plans on a cell, possibly Lex.*

Toyman: "Oh no, you can rest assured the Blur won't be a problem, I've seen to it."

*Just then, a super-speed rush arrives not to any surprise of Toyman's, this being the Hero of Metropolis and now the World's Greatest Hero as he meets yet another iconic foe face to face.*

Toyman: "Back so soon, my pretty little plaything?"

Kal-El: "I'm flattered, Winslow, but playtime's over."

*Taking his phone away and crushing it, Kal-El stands tall as Toyman looks upon the 'S' on his chest, still determined to try talking his way out of this.*

Toyman: "What's to say I just don't tell the whole world who you really are?"

Kal-El: "Something tells me if you really wanted to, you already would have. But then, we wouldn't be able to play anymore, would we? No matter how many of you band together, what games you decide to play, I'll always be there to stop you."

*With a smile on his face, the Man of Steel super-speeds off as Toyman is left defeated.*


*The following day back in the desert with Lois, Carter comes up to her outside the tent for one more very enlightening conversation.*

Carter: "Lois? About last night, I'm sorry, I guess I got a little too caught up in my story."

Lois: "You forgot to mention the most important part, it was an autobiography."

*Lois hands Hall a love letter addressed to him from Shayera.*

Lois: "I found this in the book."

Carter: "Lois, surely you don't think that--?"

Lois: "--Let's just say I wasn't born yesterday, you're not the only one of Clark's friends with a mysterious past."

Carter: "Clark did say you were wise beyond your years. I hope last night will remain between us, I'm not sure Clark would forgive me if he knew."

Lois: "Some leads are better left buried. So, if you were just here to babysit me as a favor to Clark, what was with the heart-to-heart? Something tells me story time wasn't exactly part of the agreement."

Carter: "It's... my wife, I've been hearing her in my thoughts and last night, I had a vision of her. When that happens, I know I'll be joining her soon in a new life, but to do that I must first leave this one."

Lois: "Leave? Like die?"

Carter: "It's time I meet my destiny, Lois, but before I go, I wanted you to meet yours. He can't do it without you. You're his Shayera."

Lois: "Carter, I am not like you and Shayera and... Clark. My future is here in Africa."

Carter: "You know, the philosopher Nietzche believed we shouldn't live for the future, but for the present. He thought that people who chased after some far-off future dream were really running away from their true destiny."

Lois: "Yeah, well Nietzche can call me a chicken if he wants, but he has never dated someone like Clark Kent."

Carter: "It wouldn't have mattered, to him the true hero was the person who embraced the life that he or she was given and made it better. He called that person 'Übermensch'."

Lois: "...A Superman..."

Carter: "Nietzche believed that all of us could be one, in our own way."

*Lois' face beams with inspiration thanks to Carter, now determined to give her Man of Steel an official name.*


*Later that same morning while Kal-El of Krypton patrols the skies of Metropolis in his new look, the sun shining bright upon him from head-to-toe as the Daily Planet rests in his background with the American flag, we see within the Planet building upon the paper just what Lois has named this heroic alias within its bold headline.*

'Superman Saves The Day!'


*Some time later at night in Metropolis, Clark Kent stands in the streets alone looking at a very special something in his hands while awaiting the return of one Lois Lane, checking his watch and so nervous he's even forgotten his specs just as she shows up behind him.*

Lois: "Sorry, I'm sorry, I was hung up on a phone call with the Mayor that--"

Clark: "--Right on time... for you."

Lois: "Well, I bet even you couldn't run faster in these heels."

Clark: "I wouldn't look nearly as good! What do you say we take your shoes and my sport coat and go get a nice dinner?"

Lois: "Smallville, you're not wearing a sport coat."

*Kent nervously super-speeds to behind her as he changes coats.*

Lois: "Show off!"

Clark: "Listen, why don't we get something to eat at the new place?"

Lois: "You mean the place that requires reservations six months in advance? That's a nice thought, Romeo, but we'll never get a table."

*She then sees a reserved table sitting outside just for 'Kent'.*

Clark: "You'll never know unless you ask and I hope the answer is yes."

Lois: "But unlike the rest of Metropolis, I haven't forgotten who the real heroes are and there is one in particular that I would love to snuggle up with away from the searchlights."

Clark: "Yeah, we should probably uh just go home, but wait a second! I think I hear a situation that needs s-saving... I'll be right back."

*Clark super-speeds and with that, his and Lois' phone booth rings much to her surprise as she goes across the street to answer it.*

Lois: "Did you save the day?"

Clark: "I don't know yet, look up."

*As Miss. Lane looks up and exits the phone booth, she's rained by a romantic stream of flower petals, Clark returning where they were and crossing the street to ask the most important question of both their lives.*

Clark: "You don't make it easy to ask a simple question. But that's what makes you... you. The woman I wanna spend my life with, the woman that I love."

*With that, Clark crouches down to ask away, showing Lois a ring.*

Clark: "Lois Lane, will you marry me?"

Lois: "Yes."

*As they both smile, Clark puts the ring on Lois' finger and they kiss away while the remaining petals fall upon them.*


*As seven years pass in the blink of an eye, we go to the city of Metropolis in the very early morning as the general public can see a most familiar figure flying above them in the skies, Superman as he's long-by-now gotten accustomed back to his mother's suit.*

Little girl: "...It's Superman...!"


*Inside the Daily Planet, one Lois Lane exits an elevator to enter the bullpin of the Daily Planet where Jimmy Olsen awaits her by Perry White's office as they can hear him chattering away.*

Jimmy: "Whoa whoa whoa whoa, bad idea, very very bad idea!"

Lois: "How many 'great Caesar's ghosts'?"

Perry: "Nobody tries to strong-arm the Daily Planet, if Luthor thinks he can--"

Jimmy: "Four, before his coffee...! Did you get my shots?"

Lois: "Love the framing, love the colors, where's the drama?"

Jimmy: "Um, um! Did you see the one with the elephant?"

Lois: "The Man of Steel deserves better than a circus incident on a fender bender! I want pecs, I want cape, I want pearly whites."

Jimmy: "Yes, Miss. Lane!"

Perry: "Lane!? I know you're out there, stories don't write themselves, Lane! Great Caesar's ghost!"

*As Lois and Jimmy run off in different directions, we see via an online news broadcast just who's getting elected President for the year 2018.*

Newsman: "In an LMN top story, President-elect Luthor will be giving a speech this evening on his new economic recovery plan..."


*As Lois wanders through the bullpin, she goes down a flight of stairs her loving 'Metropolis Clark' is going up.*

Man: "Watch it, Kent..."

Clark: "Sorry, 'scuse me, pardon me."

*Just then, Clark bumps into Lois as if by accident as they get down to pick their things up.*

Clark: "Woah, sorry, Miss. Lane! Let me just, uh I just--I was just, you know--"

Lois: "--Can it, Clark, nobody's paying any attention."

Clark: "Yes, Miss. Lane."

Lois: "That's so hot. ...But listen, this is serious, do you have them?"

Clark: "You mean these?"

*Clark pops open their wedding rings.*

Lois: "Yes...!"

*Popping them closed, they both share such bright smiles.*

Lois: "Are you ready?"

Clark: "I've been ready for seven years."

Reporter: "Somebody tell Perry White, it just came in over the wire, there's a bomb in an elevator up town!"

*Lois simply nods to her man as they both know what time it is.*

Clark: "Just tell the minister I'm gonna be a few minutes late."

*While Clark heads upstairs of the Planet much to Lois' own smile, he makes it to the rooftop where upon taking his Glasses off and ripping his work shirt open, becomes Superman once more to soar off.*


END-CREDITS


*In a surprising CODA back in the present, we rejoin Clark Kent and Lois Lane in the Daily Planet bullpin after they've gotten engaged, ''Metropolis Clark' bumping his way through the motions.*

Clark: "I need to figure out who he is and why he's here."

*Kent bumps into one Ron Troupe.*

Ron: "Hey hey, watch it! When did you forget how to walk, Kent?"

Clark: "Sorry."

*Out in the streets of Metropolis, a man is driving wildly within his Lamborghini.*

*'Metropolis Clark' Super-Hears this and super-speeds off to try helping.*

*Before he can arrive in time to stop it suited up, the Lamborghini crashes just as Clark comes upon the scene of the accident, the driver making it out to reveal he's none other than Bruce Wayne as he and Clark Kent stare at one another in awe.*