"But this is Earth!"
Clark spoke firmly, every word ringing with conviction.
"I will not let them succeed!"
Kara remained silent. Unlike Clark, who had grown up on Earth, she had been born and raised on Krypton. No matter what, she still carried deep feelings for her lost home.
At that moment, Lucas's face flashed through Kara's mind.
Her hesitation vanished completely.
"I won't stand by and do nothing either," she said decisively.
---
Early the next morning, every major news outlet began reporting the incident.
People everywhere were speculating about who the mysterious individual might be.
Then, someone suddenly appeared in a televised interview.
"I don't know who that alien hiding among us really is," the man said confidently,
"but I do know that Lois Lane knows."
"She told me so herself. And the person she described fits the profile of an extraterrestrial perfectly."
Inside the apartment, Clark and Lois—who were watching the broadcast together—froze at the same time.
The next second, Lois's phone rang.
It was Perry White.
"Lois," Perry asked urgently, "is that man talking about you?"
"Yes," Lois replied without hesitation. "So, Chief—what are you going to do about it?"
"Get out. Now!" Perry barked.
"The FBI and CIA are already moving. They've pinned a charge of treason on you!"
Only then did Lois fully grasp the situation. She immediately turned to look at Clark.
"Don't worry," Clark said calmly, his voice steady.
"As long as I'm here, no one is taking you away."
His composure somehow soothed her racing heart.
---
Screeech—!
A piercing sound of brakes came from outside.
Lois rushed to the window and gasped.
More than a dozen vehicles had stopped below the apartment building. Armed agents in FBI and CIA tactical gear poured out and rushed inside.
"Sit down. You don't need to move," Clark said calmly.
---
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The door was pounded violently.
Just as the agents prepared to force entry, the lock clicked open on its own.
Cautiously, they stepped inside—only to see a man and a woman sitting quietly on the living room couch, calmly watching them.
"Are you Lois Lane?" an FBI agent asked.
"So what if I am?" Lois replied coldly.
They couldn't deal with aliens—so they came after a civilian instead.
"Lois Lane," the agent said sternly,
"you are suspected of concealing critical national security information. You are required to come with us for questioning."
"And if I refuse?" Lois shot back.
"Then we won't be gentle," the agent replied, stepping forward.
"Get out."
A deep, powerful voice echoed through the room.
The agents turned to look—and realized it was the man sitting beside Lois who had spoken.
"Sir," the agent warned,
"step aside immediately. Interfere again, and we'll arrest you as well."
Clark slowly stood and walked toward them.
Under normal circumstances, he would never act this way.
But Zod's arrival—and his ultimatum—had stirred something inside him.
And now, these people dared to threaten Lois.
They were stepping straight onto the one line he would never allow anyone to cross.
As Clark approached, the agents instinctively backed away. The invisible pressure he radiated felt like a mountain pressing down on them.
The lead agent, embarrassed by his own retreat, lashed out and reached for Clark's collar.
Clark casually knocked the hand aside.
"I'll say it one last time," he said gravely.
"Leave. Now. Or don't blame me for what happens next."
"Hands on your head! On the ground!" someone shouted.
Weapons were drawn.
Pistols and assault rifles were aimed directly at Clark.
"I'm warning you," Clark said again, his voice calm but unyielding.
"Leave. Now."
"You're obstructing justice!" the lead agent shouted.
"You're under arrest!"
Clark took one step forward.
Just one.
But to them, it felt as though a mountain was crashing down.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
One agent had panicked and fired.
That single shot triggered chaos.
Gunfire erupted. Bullets poured into Clark's body like a storm.
In the instant the shots rang out, Clark turned and wrapped Lois tightly in his arms, shielding her completely.
Bullets slammed into his steel-like body, unable to even scratch him.
The impact flattened them into thin metal shards that clattered to the floor alongside spent casings.
Gunshots.
Metal impacts.
Shell casings hitting the ground.
The apartment filled with the sound of a brutal metallic symphony.
After several long seconds, the gunfire finally stopped.
"Clark! Are you okay?" Lois asked frantically.
"I'm fine," Clark replied, loosening his grip.
"They can't hurt me. Are you alright?"
"You protected me—I'm fine," Lois said quickly, brushing back her hair.
Clark turned toward the stunned agents.
Just as he was about to act, Lois grabbed his arm.
"Clark—don't," she pleaded.
She was terrified that, in his anger, he might kill them all.
"Don't worry," Clark said softly.
"I'm not going to cross that line."
He hadn't truly lost control—he was simply displeased.
After all, Lois was unharmed. There was no need to escalate further.
Before the agents could speak again, they suddenly felt their weapons grow light.
In the next instant, they watched in disbelief as Clark crushed their firearms together—like soft clay—into a single metal sphere, which he casually tossed aside.
The heavy lump hit the floor with a dull metallic thud.
"Get out," Clark said coldly.
The warning in his voice left no room for doubt.
The agents retreated quickly.
This was a job—not a death wish.
---
"Clark, there are more and more vehicles outside," Lois said anxiously.
"We can't stay here."
Clark nodded.
He stepped forward, wrapped an arm around her waist—and before she could fully react, lifted her into a princess carry.
With a single leap from the balcony, they soared into the sky.
Below them, shocked cries erupted as the two figures vanished into the clouds.
_____
T/N:
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