Despite only being an official reporter of the Daily Planet for a couple of months now, Lois has always tried her best to be the first one of the cases, the first on the ground, and the first to act. Except for today, when she rushed her boyfriend off to what she felt would've been the story of the century. While Jimmy had his conspiracy theories on aliens, Lois had always felt interested in looking further into the known.
Omni-man was at the top of that list. For decades, the warrior from the stars had protected Earth from every threat it could face. But … that's it. He'd show up, do his work, and then leave. The few eyewitnesses he looked after said he looked right past them after being saved like he was untethered from the rest of our little problems. Compared to the open book, which was one Clark Kent, it feels like Omni-Man was the one from another planet.
Since she got into journalism, Lois has always wanted to figure out Clark's whole M.O. on earth but never had the chance despite all her contacts. This is why she was both jealous that Clark might get the opportunity to live out one of her big dreams and happy that he could provide any answers she couldn't—an action she'll come to regret soon enough. As Lois finished her meal at her favorite cafe with an espresso in one hand, she got a call from Jimmy.
"What's up Flamebird? Have another scoop for me or another conspiracy theory to spot out?"
Jimmy's response cut through both of their usual whimsy.
"Lois turn on the news."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"I said turn on the news Lois. There's no time to explain. Clark's in trouble."
Without even a second thought, Lois dumped her coffee and turned on the national news, where an unbelievable sight in Las Vegas greeted her. She wasn't the only one watching, though. The world was held captive as every would-be streamer, major news network, and first responder poured their eyes on the battle between Superman and Omni-Man, including Task Force X, who looked onward in bated breath.
From Stryker's Island Penitatry, Amanda Waller looked through dozens of holographic screens her team of interns provided. Panicked sweat furrowed from her brow as she saw the Krypotanian and Viltrimute turn an entire town into their playground. Casualties were rising by the second, and yet, for all her preparation, she couldn't help but stay silent.
She was nothing more than a lowly soldier in the U.S. Military, slinking away and taking orders. Back then, she felt like she and Sam Lane were ready for anything—until Zero Day happened. When the sky opened up and rained down hellfire from above, Waller and Sam, for all their training, could do absolutely nothing.
As some of their comrades died in scores, the only thing that saved the two of them was Omni-man. Unknown to most of the world, Omni-man touched down on Earth then, fighting back against the alien machines and promising to protect Earth from any future attack like it. While some governments found Nolan's promise a blessing, Waller knew it was nothing more than a veiled front.
During Zero Day, Waller realized two crucial facts about herself. Not only was humanity not alone in the universe, but not everyone out there was so kind, which is why she spent every waking moment preparing for Earth to come out on top. She wishes she didn't have to lead the charge alone. Waller pondered deep in thought until Slade Wilson pulled her back in.
"Waller, we need orders now. Do we engage or not? If I roll in now I bet we can take them both out," he said quickly.
"No, Agent Wilson. At least not yet. Right now we'll do what Task Force X has always done: prepare. Besides, I have a very different mission for you anyway."
Wilson's grin grew as the massive room's screens zoomed in on the current battle. A bright, big flash of lightning sent an electric streak through the air, intercepting the woman before she fell. Despite the last-second save, Clark laid down the woman gently, trying his best not to excite her terrible shock even further.
With a warm, soulful look, the woman's breathing started to low as she steadied herself further. Through the crackle of the blue energy, Clark sucked in his pain and said.
"You're safe now but it won't be that way for long if you don't go away now."
Omni-Man's ominous shadow descended upon them as the woman started running away. When she was out of sight, Superman immediately fell to one knee. Usually, after he entered his blue form, he would feel rejuvenated, but his clash with Omni-Man had left some wounds still fresh. Knowing Superman could hear his voice, Omni-Man whispered out.
"You only delayed the inevitable for her. Her life alongside this planet is under my protection not yours."
"I don't understand what you're even talking about?! We don't have to fight here, especially if we share the same goal here."
The Krypotianan pleas fell on deaf ears as Omni-man's mind recalled a conflict far beyond them both.
"We may share the same goal, but you'll share your species fate soon enough."
Superman's growing resolve and determination were enough to tear Steel apart as his eyes glowed red.
"Over my dead body."
"That'll be arranged."
Superman was first on the quickdraw, releasing the full salvo of heat vision in a violent blast. Las Vegas was already sweltering enough, but the entire city block beneath them turned into molten soup through contact with the air alone. When the blast finally hit, even Omni-man crumbled beneath the blast's weight, forcing the Viltrimute back. Despite Arty's best efforts, his suit quickly became undone, collecting minor singes and burns while he flailed above the air.
At least, he did at first, but all too soon, Nolan did what his race did best: Overcome. While pushing off the superheated air itself, Omni-man slowly but sheerly advanced towards his fated enemy. A mix of awe, horror, and resolve flashed across his face as Kal-el stood his ground despite the distance between them getting shorter and shorter.
Before soon enough, Nolan was eye to eye with him, taking everything the Man of Steel could dish out until his gloves closed around Clark's face. All hope in Clark's face completely vanished for a few seconds while Omni-man looked at his sizzling clothes. He wrote two soul-shattering words after wiping off some soot and molten tar from his costume.
"My turn."
He then delivered another earth-shaking blow straight to Superman's jaw, blackening the Big Blue Boy Scout's eye while having him sail towards the pavement. Loose sparks of blue electricity still rang out. Still, they were merely sputters of power, futilely delaying the inevitable at what Superman thought would be his last sight as Omni-Man tried stomping him into the pavement.
It was a blow that may have connected if the Man of Steel had not made connections in very high places over his fledgling career. In a thin veil of blue holograms, the famed superhero vanished at the last second, leaving Omni-man to create a small magma geyser to rain down on the city upon his touchdown. Against the fiery hail of his own making, the experienced warrior's eyes darted and scanned his surroundings, wondering if this was another Kryptonian power or technology birthed from Earth.
A question he didn't have to worry about for very long as he saw several streaks high above the sky. For a second, he almost thought it was just leftover debris until the projectiles started to change course and converge on him. Once he connected the dots, completely banal overshadowed Omni-man's face as he gave a simple stretch and greeted the small squadron of Task Force X's OMACs.
As the world watched what was about to be one of many titanic battles, we headed back to Metropolis, where two of Clark Kent's closest allies were watching. Despite the blaring headlines speaking out about Clark's death, Lois didn't pay them any mind; instead, she was already trying to call every contact, every lead, and every source she could find. She was so laser-focused that she didn't even hear Jimmy use the spare key to enter her apartment. But Lois' body moved in the ultimate bear hug when she saw his remorseful face. "Jimmy, I tried calling everyone I knew- if we hurry I think we can book a flight to Las Vegas." "Lois." "My dad also may have left behind some contacts so we could possibly get some hands on some Krptonain tech if need be to fight." "Lois!" "And if not then we can Perry and Planet to."-Jimmy then gently grabbed his friend's shoulders and said once again. "Lois." Any attempted composure Lois had left wholly vanished. Tears welled up in her face as she sobbed into Jimmy's arm. "I was the one who told him to talk to Omni-man Jimmy. I sent him away and now he's gone. Just like my father and just like my mother. And I'm always too powerless to stop it." "Hey, the Lois Lane I know oesn't do that type of talk. I've known Clark for years and I'ce seen him survive biggers scrapes then this. Right now, I think it's best for us to sit this one out till Clark needs us again. " Lois' amber eyes regained a little bit of their light, wiping away her tears on her green jacket. "Right, and we are going to be ready." For better or worse, Lois wouldn't have to wait long for her promise to come true, as a distant rocket like so many years ago is rocketing Clark across Earth. Not that the Krypotnian could register the parallel. He was too busy drifting in and out of consciousness. In the past, Clark's visions were some ominous warning haunting his sleep with the same repeated nightmare. Now, though, the vision has finally changed scenery to that of his first home: Krypton. Like he saw all those months ago when he first donned his suit, he saw his birth parents loading him into the rock that would save his life. However, when he started to zoom across the stars, Clark mysteriously saw his ship from an outside perspective—and with it, the main reason why he left. Cause across the entire Kyroptianan skyline; he saw a battle beyond his wildest dreams. Hordes of Kryptonian ships aided alongside their OMACs, and drones fired their full salvos of lasers against any enemy they'd never seen before. An enemy Clark now knew all too well, with the scars to prove it. Because despite nearly dying on one of these ships on Thanksgiving, they were now being torn through like tissue paper by the exact white-robed figures in his nightmares. Except now they existed in scores, leaving a trail of dead bodies and destroyed machines in their wake. Every cell in Clark's body beckoned him to go out there and stop the madness. Until he remembered just how pointless the endeavor would be, so he kept watching every atrocity in motion, realizing the monstrous people he fought against were now a little too human when their powers were flipped. "Why- am I being shown this?" Clark got his answer immediately as he was transported into a first-person view of his rocket hurdling through space. From the small window, he saw the stars zoom past him until he saw the exact silhouette figure from before zoom in from the horizon—except this time, they were in "full view." Here, Clark realized his fight with Omni-man may have started before he was even born. Before his very eyes were Omni-man in the flesh, who rocketed toward him with another punch at the ready. In sheer shock, Clark woke up clutching his chest in sheer panic. Except this time, Superman didn't fly, shoot lasers, or leave a handprint on the ground. He didn't do anything. The hero then looked at his surroundings, letting his reporter instincts take over to see he was in a large white room dimmed in red light, with a thin forcefield from each edge. One touch from it let Supes know that this was the same technology that Ivo used against him in his first fight with him. Leading him to one conclusion. "Alright, Walller you can show yourself now." A holographic image of Waller then appeared in front of him. With a coy yet sadistic smile, the woman said. "Do you like the new accommodations we gave you?" At first, Superman didn't pay her any mind. He walked through her, mystified over his inability to fly for the first time in over a decade. "Don't bother. Right now, we're beaming you with more red solar radiation then last time, complete with the same forcefield projection courtesy of Ivo's Amazotech. You're not slipping through our fingers again I assure you." Superman's eyes then widened in sheer horror, realizing the devastation within Las Vegas was only about to get magnified on a global scale without his presence. "Look, I may not be as familiar with you as the General, but I'm hoing all the same you let me out of here. Now." Despite the height difference, Waller measured up to the Man of Steel word for word. "And why exactly would I do that?" "Because all this time Task Force X hasn't been able to bring me down. So what makes you think you can take down Omni-man?" The mere mention of his name casts a dark hue over the room. Waller's ironclad resolve chipped away through a slight twitch. A move she instantly course-corrected. "Because we've been preparing for his heelturn just as long as yours. In fact we're preparing for him as we speak. When Omni-man's been taken care of, you'll be taken care of soon enough." Waller's promise rang true immediately, for as she chatted with the Last Son of Krypton, Agent Wilson was following orders. Deep beneath the sewers of Metropolis, several of the city's most dangerous criminals gathered. The now infamous Intergang traveled into the intersection of sewer tunnels, followed closely by a tempestuous Livewire. "Look I know you Intergang bums stink but I don't see why you have to check a location that matched your rep," Lesile said impetuously. Siobhan, better known to the Daily Planet as Silver Banshee, responded. "Yeah right, like Intergang needs your help anyway. You're the one who called us remember?" Heatwave then jumped in."Wait, we thought you called us." Livewire immediately put the pieces together, making her frustration known with a sparking finger snap. "Damn it! Can't believe I just fell for the easiest trick in the freaking book." "Don't beat yourself too bad Livewire," Agent Wilson said as he appeared from the shadows, "We Black Ops agents tend to be a little crafty."Immediately, the former members of Task Force X swarmed him with live Livewire, which appeared beside Slade's head with a charged finger. "Give me one good reasons why I shouldn't fry your brain Black Ops."Slade turned around his crimson eyes arrogantly. "Because you need me as much as I need you." Livewire then immediately backed off, sensing a job when she saw it. "And get our clocked clean by Superman again? No thank you." "Nope, the Blue Boy Scout isn't on the menu this time. Omni-man is."The mention of his name shocked every criminal, and they stopped. They were forcing murmurs between them as Livewire spoke for them. "And why would we do that?" "Because right now that man is on the warpath. And we're going to take him out. You're free to not except the offer but know this. After he clears through the first wave of OMAC's in Vegas he'll know to hit Metrpolis next and I bet he's faster then all of youre collective ability to run away. At beast we got an hour." Sliver Banshee then butted in. "And what in it for us, provided we even survive fighting someone who kicked Superman's clock clean on live Tv?" "Besides getting the glory of serving your nation. Task Force X will give you a full pardon for your previous crimes and a handsome salary alongside some upgrades to your tech. Now I'm not a betting man, mainly cause I always win, but that sounds like a good deal."Task Force X murmured amongst themselves, clearly tempted by the offer. With Livewire unconsciously taking charge, the Terminator had his answer. "Fine, you have a deal."Slade then smiled. "Excellent." With the pact made, Task Force X was officially reunited with a new mission. Unfortunately, the team would have very little time to prepare. As Slade said, Omni-man rocketed in as fast as a fighter jet, starting off his rampage through a pressing sonic boom that shook multiple buildings by their foundations. Glass rained down like hail in various city blocks, shredding through civilians, people, and powerlines with ease. Unlike the situation with Doc Semsic, though, he didn't pay any of them in mind. Because for his centuries-long mission, he was willing to trade the decades of goodwill he's made on Earth. His meeting with the Krupotanian sped up the deadline. Speaking of him, Omni-man continued his search for the Kryptonian, holding on to the mangled hand of one of the OMA, revealing a holographic map.With Omni-man finally serving on the red dot on the map, he zoomed around Metrpolis until he reached the destination the map laid out: an old shipyard right outside Metrpolis. Perplexed, Nolan wondered why and how his enemy would hide amongst the broken pieces until his attention was called elsewhere. "Now, now. Didnt' anyone tell you not to take something which doesn't belong to you?" Without even a hint of surprise, Omni-man looked up and saw Task Force X in full glory from a flying ship, ready and willing to fight the Viltrumite or die trying.