Bang!
The car slammed into Dinah with a force no human body could withstand.
She screamed as her body was thrown into the air, soaring over the bridge railing before crashing violently into the turbulent river below.
The event happened too quickly for anyone on the bus to react. A scream pierced the air, and the students watched, frozen, as Dinah flew through the air.
Clark had reacted the moment she leapt off the bus. He was about to follow when the bus door snapped shut. To save her, he would have had to shatter a window and expose himself.
The car struck her before he could act.
"Oh my God! That's Dinah!"
"Call an ambulance! The fire department! Hurry!"
Fear rippled through the students. Some immediately dialed emergency services, while others, especially the girls, covered their mouths, trembling at the sight.
Clark turned to Adrian, his eyes sharp with a mix of frustration and disbelief.
"Adrian, you—you closed the bus door, didn't you?"
Adrian's expression remained cold, his tone measured. "Ask the driver, Clark, not me. She came at us with a dagger. She wasn't just wandering."
"She…" Clark struggled, guilt tightening his chest. "She's just a kid, Adrian. You shouldn't have done that."
"Everyone is responsible for their actions, whether child or adult," Adrian replied evenly. "She was armed, attempting a crime. Without me, if your powers failed, if we were ordinary people, you would be dead. Clark, never let compassion blind you to danger."
He paused, eyes lingering on the river where Dinah sank beneath the waves. "The dagger fell. Nervous, flustered, she jumped to retrieve it, and the car struck her. Accidents favor the reckless, don't they?"
Clark exhaled slowly, struggling with the truth. "Even so, the sins of her parents aren't hers to bear. Maybe she was acting out of anger, but we… we shouldn't judge so harshly."
"That is the difference between us, Clark," Adrian said flatly. "You want to simplify, to compartmentalize. The world isn't that simple. Don't fool yourself into thinking a naive girl is innocent."
Adrian fell silent. Clark, seeing his restraint, sighed. Even Superman's strength had limits, and the realization weighed on him: he couldn't save everyone.
At Kent Farm, Martha listened quietly as Adrian mentioned the accident. "Did the police recover her?"
"Not yet," Adrian said, shrugging lightly.
"That's tragic," Martha murmured, melancholy tinting her voice. "Clark, you can't save everyone."
Jonathan placed a hand on Clark's shoulder. "Misfortune strikes constantly. You can't carry it all. Beating yourself up only traps you in fear and doubt."
"I know, Dad," Clark said, a small smile forming. He didn't explain the bus incident, only glancing at the gray sky outside.
---
Justice Society Headquarters
Night had fallen over Metropolis. Bart entered the Justice Society Headquarters carrying a plastic bucket and a backpack.
Clapping his hands, he surveyed the space. "The leader's chair… hmm, average at best. Not as comfortable as my sofa. Guess I won't be leading much today."
He opened the bucket. A fishy smell rose immediately. Bart carried it to an iron door and knocked. "Big guy, dinner's here!"
Through a small hatch at the door's bottom, he pushed the fish inside, followed by fruit from his backpack. Soon, loud chewing echoed from within.
Familiar with the creature behind the door, Bart relaxed. "You remind me of a story from my childhood," he muttered. "My uncle had a pit bull named Jax. He was abused, vicious. I let him escape once… he became loyal, friendly. Maybe you can be like Jax."
Bart shook his head, adjusting his headphones. "I used to be lonely. Now I have friends, family. No more Jax."
In a blur, he activated his speed, whisking back to Smallville.
Outside, the sky had turned dark with thick clouds. Rain began to pour, mist spreading across the landscape.
---
Metropolis International Airport
A black sedan pulled up on the tarmac. Amanda Waller stepped out, umbrella in hand, followed by bodyguards.
Though she hadn't yet formed the Suicide Squad, she was already a formidable figure in metahuman affairs, overseeing Project Cadmus and Belle Reve operations.
"Deadshot," she said, checking her watch, "you've looked grim since leaving the car. Not about your skin—your attitude. Not happy about working with me?"
"I'm not sure I can trust you," Deadshot replied, blunt and wary.
Amanda smiled lightly. "Think of me as… neither wholly good nor wholly bad. I don't plan to tame you, just guide you. You're perfect for my team because your moral compass isn't extreme."
She turned toward the rain-drenched city. "We've been tasked by General Lane to investigate a complicated case nearby. It will be harder than anything you've seen. You'll obey me. I'll have contingencies to maintain control."
Deadshot's frown deepened.
"You're not alone. You'll meet others soon. Among them may even be some of your old friends," she added, her voice calm, calculated. "I can also help your family if we cooperate well."
Her phone rang. Frowning, she answered. "Colonel Flag, everything ready? Good. Don't go to Smallville yet; we're visiting someone important—Lionel Luthor."
___
Discount on patreon ends in a few hours
Milestone
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters