To his fellow coworkers at the Daily Planet, Clark Kent was probably just your big ball of bumbling nerves. To the average citizen of Metropolis, he is Superman, an extraterrestrial superhero who wields their uncontested power benevolently. If you asked the man himself, though (provided he could answer honestly), he'd probably say he's somewhere in the middle.
Despite being faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, Clark still feels like the same clueless farm boy with no idea who or what he is. After all, if this past year has taught him anything, he's far from … invincible.
Even now, that's the case as we see an adolescent, Clark, sit on top of his family barn amidst a starry night sky. As the young boy's eyes twinkled as brightly as the celestial bodies above, he couldn't help but look at them with wonder … and worry. Despite those feelings warring inside him, the boy's curiosity trumped them both to the point where he reached out above.
When he did, Clark defied gravity, floating a couple of inches without even knowing. When he finally realized what was happening, he haphazardly stumbled a bit, flailing in mid-air until he caught himself. Once he stabilized, Clark gave out a slight smirk of pride before looking towards the heavens again.
"Is there still more out there? More of me?"
The Boy of Steel immediately got his question answered as one of the stars above him started to get closer to him. Real close. When Clark realized what was happening, he tried flying away, but it was too late. The bright light crashed down to Earth at such blinding speeds the entire barn got swept up in a fiery explosion. Splintered debris shredded through the crops like shrapnel as a thick dust cloud choked everything as far as the eye could see.
This included young Clark, whose pitch-perfect vision was blurred by his missing glasses and the blood dripping from his forehead. Shock completely took over the young Kroptian, who was mystified by what could possibly hurt him this badly until the heavens gave him another answer. From the fresh crater, a hulking frame covered in dust and darkness emerged, hovering over the large crater.
Clark immediately tried to run, hoping to escape, but his fearful scrambling made him a bigger target as the hulking shadow turned its attention toward him. The figure cut Clark's attempted escape route, slapping him to the ground like he were a mere fly. Without any mercy or relent, the enemy then proceeded to step on the downed boy's throat.
Clark struggled to breathe underneath the figure's almighty power as he fearfully clawed at their boot heel. It was to no avail, though, as all too soon, his coarse coughs turned to wisping sputters. His vision turned to black. He let his last words ring out.
"Who … are you?
The figure only responded by saying.
"Clark. Clark! CLARK Kent!!"
In a panic, Clark then woke up in the present-day living room of his Metropolis apartment, utterly terrified from the same nightmare he's had for the past month or so. Ever since he stopped the Kryptonian Invasion on Thanksgiving, he's been haunted by the same vision. At first, they were manageable, but every night, the visions became clearer and clearer, to the point where both he and his "pal" were starting to reach their limit.
When his thunderous heartbeat slowed, Clark immediately realized it was his best pal and roommate, Jimmy Olsen, shouting his name. Instead of his usual pajamas, Jimmy was now decked out in a bent golf club, football pads, and a baseball helmet. In confusion, the reporter asked.
"Um, hey, Jimmy. Since when did you play golf? Also, why is the club bent?
Up against his baby blue eyes, Jimmy couldn't help but have his frustration reigned in with a sarcastic but sassy smile.
"Heyyyy Clark. Um, never took golfing last time I checked but after your, bad dreams, I thought I should take some precautions. No matter how ineffective they were."
Clark then peered away from Jimmy to see their apartment in disarray. One of their counters had been chipped, their TV remote had been smashed to dust, and the ceiling had multiple small craters in the shape of Clark's fist. Worst of all, though, Clark was hovering about two feet above Jimmy, in broad daylight. Another jolt of anxiety shocked Clark worse than any run-in with Livewire. He embarrassingly tried to keep his composure.
"Um, right sorry about that. Just give me a minute or two fix this up."
Clark then transformed into a blur, speeding past the room and doing the work of an entire construction team in seconds. He fixed or replaced any of the items he damaged, all while his utterly unfazed pal took off his gear to prepare a cup of coffee for them both. By the time the two cups of joes brewed, Jimmy looked to see his apartment completely renovated for the dozenth time.
Clark then landed back down with his and Jimmy's work clothes folded into a bin by his side. At first, Jimmy smiled, but when he saw Clark's cold beads of sweat and rushed breaths, he quickly placed his coffee down to give a swift shoulder tap to the Big Blue Boy Scout.
"Hey man, I know that between my Flamebird money and you're superpowers we can fix up this place as many times as we need to but do you want to talk? These nightmares seem to be getting worse."
Any sense of strength Clark had then immediately crumbled. He gave out an exhausted sigh before talking.
"I know. And I don't know how to stop them. They almost feel real. I'm worried I'm going to hurt someone out of panic. Like when I tried tracking down Mist with that truck," his mind trails somewhat, remembering everything he went through with Task Force X. "What if these visions mean something else is coming? Something worse?"
Jimmy then immediately hugged his friend.
"Now now, we're stopping that talk right now. If there is something worse that's going to come, we'll deal with it like we always do, together and when it's actually here. Because not only are you Superman but you're also not alone."
His friend's words were so warm Clark nearly got lifted off his feet.
"Thanks Jimmy."
"No problem, but I would have preferred if you thanked me after you talked to Lois about this. Maybe she could help you."
"Maybe, but Lois' working on a story and with everything going on with her dad I didn't want to worry her."
"Clark, she's your girlfriend, she's going to worry about you regardless and she's also always working on a story. Before the New Year vibes completely vanishes you should go see each other. Between all the Flamebird stuff and both of your promotions I'm sure Perry would be fine with a day or two off."
Clark mused over his best friend's offer.
"I don't know Jimmy I think I've got-."
Olsen then usually tried pushing Clark out of the apartment.
"Nope. Thinking got you here in the first place. Right now I need you to act. So move Clark move!"
"Hey, stop that Jimmy!"
Despite his herculean strength, Clark was immediately pushed out of the door. He immediately tried to force his way back in but took his friend's advice. After a steady set of breaths, the Man of Steel flipped through his phone and immediately called the Daily Planet's most intrepid reporter, Lois Lane.
Over the blare of her TV, she was already hard at work typing away at her next story. Ever since she was an intern for Planet, the woman has been an unstoppable force. But after all the stuff that happened with her "father," she's tried distracting herself any way she could, even if it came in the form of her boyfriend's desperate plea. Without missing a beat in her words per minute, she picked up her phone.
"Hey Clark. What's up?"
"Hey Lois. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"
"Sure. I'm working on a story about some Amazotech subsidiaries. But I've got some time to ki-."
She then heard a knock at the door. When she saw through the peephole, she got the surprise of her life. A nervous Clark, adorably tapping his fingers together, was on the other side.
"Oh, you meant a few minutes right now."
Lois then looked at her crummy set of sweatpants and immediately went into overdrive. In seconds, her speed surpassed Superman's as she threw together her usual work ensemble, complete with her green coat. While flushed and huffing, she then opened the door to Clark.
"Hey Smallville, what brings you to my humble abode?"
Clark blushed heavily but still played right into Lois' hands.
"Well Ms. Lane I've got a story to share. I need your opinion on it."
The two then traded notes immediately, expressing Clark's current dilemma. In its wake, Lois, for once, was stunned and silent. Clark hung off her next words.
"I'm sorry to hear about that, Clark. But I don't think I've ever had a dream like that. Have you tried meditation, calming noises? Hot coco maybe?"
"I've tried all that and the above, and nothing seems to work," Clark said while looking wistfully. "I'm beginning to think this is some failsafe from the Kryptonian ship or some new power like my super hearing. What if I turn out like those evil superman that orb showed me?
His worrying was interrupted by a peck to the cheek from Lois.
"You're cute when your worry Clark but you're not going to turn out like that.You wouldn't hurt a fly."
"Well, I did technically, but I felt bad about it. Besides the point, though, I know you're partially right, but I can't shake this worry off. I wish I could talk with someone, anyone, like me.'
Lois's usual positivity turned to an intense focus. A thousand possible stories ran through her head normally, but now she was filing through everyone to help her boyfriend. until she found her answer blaring on the TV. Lois's amber eyes then lit up as she pulled Clark closer to the TV.
"Maybe there is.
She then raised the volume and brightness, making sure Clark got the full view of what would be the meeting of a lifetime.
"You're lucky I love you Clark. Cause I think I just gave you the solution you needed and the scoop of the century!"
Said story was already on the move, though, as a red and white streak already made its way towards a pressing danger. Usually, this assignment would be beneath him, but these past few weeks have made people jump around him. Nolan needed an easy win. The problem is Doc Seismic wasn't providing him with one. By the time he had already brought him down, the bastard had already set up multiple vibrational bombs in key locations across the city, tearing it apart at the seams. He didn't particularly care to ask why.
Omni-man had been trying to put out the fires as best he could, but he just couldn't be everywhere—not without accidentally splattering any bystanders, like a bug on a windshield. Leading us to now as the Vitrlmuite strained himself amidst a schism. In painful slow motion he saw a destabilized crane let loose several steel beams aimed straight at a couple of dozen several civilians and a building coming apart at the seams with thousands of people.
In his mind the alien calculated the potential casualties ahead of him with the same importance as what to have for dinner. Luckily for both him and the world, another stranger from the stars made the choice for him' save them all. For the first time in his life Omni Man was too slow to act as a blue streak miraculously whisked away each steel beam like they were a group of raked leaves.
Using those same beams he melted them down to liquid using blistering heat and applied the molten chunks perfectly to parts of the building which needed support most. Once the people from the building started pouring out the streak then revealed itself to be not a bird, or plane but a man. A Superman. By the time first responders responded to both scenes Superman had already claimed the masses and created a list of every casualties specific injuries. As if he could see through them like an x ray. All while Omni man stood in utter disbelief.
"I thought they were all gone," the warrior thought to himself as Superman rose above the masses to greet Omni man.
"Omni-man? I'm glad to finally meet your acquaintance. The name is Superman, and we have a lot to discuss."
For a solid few seconds Omni-man still stood in disbelief, only to have his awkward pussyfooting get interrupted by Superman as he looked away.
"Oh wait hold that thought, there's a fire near 5th and 4th. Care to help?"
Like a lightswitch the phrase forced Omni-man back into his old persona as he artificially smiled.
"Sure thing."
From there the two got to work immediately putting out every criss they could in half an hour. Amidst the emergencies through Superman couldn't help but beam with pride from behind Nolan's cape. He had been so obsessed with Task Force X's plans, moving to Metropolis, dealing with his heritage he feared he was alone.
All while forgetting about a guy who handled all the same struggles as him with flying colors. He of course appreciated Lois and Jimmy but in his eyes in this world, Omniman was the closest thing he had to an inspiration. Unfortunately the Man of Steel was so starstruck he couldn't even hear the creeping pressure underneath his fist. After they stopped the bombings Homelander and Superman then continued there conversation.
"You said you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes Mr. Omni, or sir-."
"Omni-man is fine. And if you want to talk then I think it's best if we do this somewhere more private. Try to keep up. "
In one massive sonic boom the Viltrumite left with Superman having no choice but to follow as they sailed towards a distant desert. From there the two decided to compare notes. Superman told him as much of his story as allowed. He described how he came from the planet Krypton as it's last son as a child before crash landing to Earth. How he spent the last 22 years living amongst humans, not knowing his origins, till he decided to come out to the world as Superman. When he was finished Superman tried his best to summarize his nervous ramblings.
"That's my story. Or at least all I know of it. And while I know it's a little presumptuous, I was hoping you could help me fill in the holes or at least pass along a few tips on how to do this superhero thing better," he said as he held his hand out," What do you say?"
Just like that another painful schism formed within Nolan, realizing Superman's words may very well be true. That he may truly be an"innocent," if the timelines truly match up. Nevertheless Omni-man knew that just because this being had denied his culture doesn't mean he can deny his own. So in predatory resolve Nolan grabbed Superman's hand.
"I say-," Omni-man says as he started to squeeze Superman's hand so hard his bones popped, "I'll be happy to show you exactly what happened to your people."
Any mercy the soldier then left as he proceed to give Superman a punch which would be heard around the world. It's power was so great a shockwave overtook the desert as Superman got sent flying like a rag doll upon miles rock. The man of Steel tried his best to slow himself down but with the wind knocked out of him all he could do was brace for impact as he crashed into a huge boulder.
Once the Kryptonians' world stopped spinning he saw Omni-man in the distance flying over for another punch. This time he was ready for it though as Superman caught his advance and sailed upwards into the sky. The two then entered a shaky deadlock in mid-air.
"I don't understand. Why are you doing this?! I don't want to fight you."
"If that's then this should go by fast."
To break out of the hold Omni man launched a flurry of headbutts into Superman. However even when blood flew and bones broke he held on, returning the attack with a barrage of heat vision. A move which sent both of them spiraling straight into Las Vegas. In seconds the city's populace were at the mercy of the alien's battle as they crashed into several skyscrapers. Chunks of debris landed like hail on the populace as the two's rampage stopped when they crashed into the top of a casino.
An establishment that by Superman's count of his super hearing had 500 people cowering and panicking. Including a young woman right beside the both of them, who was soldering onto dear life on a piece of rusty steel rod from the 50th floor. In panic Superman made one last pacifistic plea.
"Please, you've got to stop. There are people here!"
The woman then started to slip, her hands quivering in fear as she looked at the hundreds of feet between her and the pavement. In desperation, the hero started to plead again.
"Then at least let me go so I can save her. Please, she's going to die!"
"And you will too. I promise you that."
The young women then fell, screaming out for anyone to help. A call Superman answered as blue electricity swelled within his body. A defiant "NO" was all the hero could belt out as everything soon faded to white.