Time rewound to the moment Victor was about to depart at the entrance of Downton Manor.
Hearing Clark's words, Victor glanced at the woman tightly clutching Clark's wrist, then sneered.
He shook his head and said, "You're Clark, right? A good buddy. If not for today, I might have recruited you myself.
You've got guts, and backbone. Gang material.
But look around, hear those voices.
Why do you think I'm one of the few allowed into the Manor, preparing to head to Washington with the others?
Because only a handful of us aren't afraid of death? Because everyone else here is made of cowardice?"
Victor lifted both hands toward the gathered members of the Dead Souls Gang.
The crowd erupted.
"Haha! Fear? I've got nothing worth losing!"
"I want to go to Washington too, but I haven't reached the Boss's level yet. I'm not qualified!"
"Die unknown, or die remembered, I'd choose Washington!"
"Aliens come to Gotham, I'm charging first!"
"Kick their asses!"
"Take them apart!"
"Gotham has no cowards!"
The noise rolled through the courtyard.
Beside Clark, Martha tightened her grip on his wrist.
Seeing the worry in his mother's eyes, Clark smiled faintly.
He patted her hand, then looked back at Victor.
Her concern did not shake him, it steadied him.
She had always been his strength.
Victor noticed the change in Clark's expression.
His grin widened.
He stepped closer and said, "You hear them? It isn't that they don't want to go, they haven't earned it.
And you?
What makes you qualified to fight beside us, because you've got an old mother depending on you?"
He suddenly drew a pistol and pressed the barrel beneath Clark's chin.
"No!"
Martha reached for the gun, but Clark stopped her.
Victor tapped Clark's chin with the muzzle.
"Look at your mother, she's about to cry.
Stop playing hero. Stay here and take care of her, kid."
He holstered the pistol and turned toward the Manor.
Under Martha's anxious gaze, Clark took a breath and spoke.
"I'm Axel's friend, and I'm stronger than I look."
Victor stopped mid-step.
Slowly, he turned.
Then he strode back, grabbed Clark's arm, and said, "Why are you still standing here? Come on, we're going in together.
When you mentioned Smallville earlier, I knew I recognized it.
You're that Kent Farm guy. Boss Axel talked about you.
But I have to be clear, this trip is dangerous.
Are you sure you can survive it?"
Clark met his gaze.
"Why should anyone fight only battles they're certain to win?
If it's to protect our people and this world, sacrifice can't be what scares us."
Victor's expression shifted into open approval.
"You're solid. They'll like you.
And your showing up means all our work these past few days wasn't wasted.
Boss Axel is something else.
Every path he walks, every person he meets, every word he says, every kindness or cruelty, people investigate all of it.
Your family, and that thief couple in Smallville, both helped him once.
You may not know it, but we've been protecting all of you.
There's also that lunatic clown, the Joker. The guy Axel handed a phone to while he was spinning ad signs on a sidewalk.
FBI grabbed him in two days.
I personally got him out.
Funny thing is, protecting people connected to Axel almost makes me feel like I've done something good."
Laughing, Victor waved toward Floyd Lawton, who was walking out from the laboratory.
Floyd frowned.
"Vic, who are they, family?"
Victor scoffed.
"Me? Family?
They're Axel's friends. Helped him once."
Floyd looked impressed.
"That takes nerve."
He stepped forward and offered a hand.
"Floyd Lawton. Deadshot."
"Clark Kent. Farmer from Kansas. This is my mother, Martha."
They shook.
Floyd pointed toward several villas.
"There's room. Pick a house.
You two, come look after them."
Two maids rushed over.
Floyd added, "Axel's benefactors. Treat them right."
The maid nearest Clark looked stunned and immediately latched onto his arm.
Clark flushed and gently pulled free.
"Please just take care of my mother.
And keep her safe.
I'm going to Washington too."
Floyd blinked, then looked at Victor.
Victor nodded.
Floyd studied Martha's worried face, ready to respond, but the sound of engines interrupted him.
Two armored suits burst from the laboratory skylight, circled overhead, then landed heavily on the lawn.
Martha froze at the sight.
A maid steadied her.
Then from the main castle, Zatanna and Selina Kyle, suited as Catwoman, approached.
Floyd stared.
"Selina, you're going too?"
She smirked.
"Do I look like I'm staying behind?"
Then she glanced toward the castle and muttered, "My husband pretends not to care whether I live or die.
But if I'm there, maybe all of you survive a little easier.
And if I go, I won't be stuck worrying about you idiots."
"Good."
The Bat-armor opened and Bruce Wayne's voice came through.
"If nobody else is joining, we leave now.
Nearly eighty thousand soldiers are dead near Washington.
Far more civilians.
Hundreds of thousands have been assimilated by those so-called gods.
They can't wait any longer... wait, Clark Kent?"
Bruce turned toward him.
"You're the Smallville guy who gave Axel clothes and a ride.
What are you doing here?
Don't tell me you're coming too."
The towering armor cast a shadow over Clark.
Clark exhaled in irritation.
"So everyone knows me now?"
"I do."
Lex Luthor stepped forward with a slight smile.
"Anyone who had contact with Axel drew attention.
We investigated all of them.
Thoroughly.
And unlike Bruce, I noticed some interesting things about your family.
I simply hadn't had time to dig deeper.
Now you've saved me the trouble."
His smile sharpened.
Clark felt a chill.
There was something deeply unsettling about this Luthor.
◇ I'll drop one bonus chapter for every 10 reviews
(Leave a review/comment)
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100
Power Stones.
◇ Read 80 | 100 chapters ahead on [email protected]/_Zeph